Pleocoma oregonensis, the Oregon Rain Beetle. Related to scarabs, these beetles spend 9-13 years progressing through 9 or more instars (root-feeding white grubs) before maturing into these large glossy beetles with a hairy undercarriage. The males are triggered to fly around in search of mates by rain and temperature cues, sensing pheromones emitted by the females in underground burrows. They fly for only a few hours, and die within a few days. They lack functional mouthparts as adults, so they do not feed. Native to a small area in Wasco and Sherman Counties to the northeast of Mt Hood. The grubs of P. oregonensis and a couple related species are pests on orchard trees in the Hood River valley. Apparently there was a push to make it the state insect, but it lost out to the Oregon Swallowtail. #pleocomaoregonensis #oregonrainbeetle #furlinedcollar #allthattherainpromisesandmore #wyeast #wascocounty #oregon #pacificwonderland #pleocoma

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