The Goldsmith Beetle (Cotallpa lanigera),
a member of the scarab family, are found in deciduous forests, woodlands, and
fields near woodlands. We were lucky enough to find a beautiful male beetle
outside of the lodge at the North Lakeland Discovery Center on the evening of
July 16, 2013 and a female on the evening of July 17, 2013 at the gas station
near Vance Lake in Manitowish Waters.
They are a relatively large (an inch in length!), heavy, gold metallic
beetle with metallic green feet. Their bottom side is covered with dense, white
wool-like hairs. They are considered uncommon, but not threatened or
endangered. 
Goldsmith beetles emerge between May and July to breed. After a
gestation period of 6 months within her body, females lay a small number of
eggs relative to other beetles in their family near tree roots or rotting logs
which serve as a food source for their larvae. The first 1-2 years of their
lives as larvae are spent underground, burrowing through the soil surrounding
the roots of trees. The white larvae help aerate the soil and are important in
the decay of dead logs. After they pupate, they emerge from the soil as adults.
Adults feed primarily on willow and poplar; and occasionally on oak, hickory,
and pear foliage. They are most active at night, flying from tree to tree to
feed. They form ‘tents’ out of leaves during the day, holding onto the opposite
sides of leaves to create shade. Goldsmith beetles produce sounds using ridged
organs on their legs to communicate. Their predators include blue jays and
purple martins. Adults hibernated during the winter about 15 inches below
ground.
After admiring our gold beetle friends, we released them into the trees
by the lakes. When you visit the Discovery Center, keep your eyes open for a
glint of gold!
--Photos by Courtney Davis, Environmental Education Intern 2013
Excerpt
from: The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe,
1843.
He (sic William Legrand) had found an unknown
bivalve, forming a new genus, and, more than this, he had hunted down and
secured, with Jupiter's assistance, a scarabaeus which he believed to be
totally new, but in respect to which he wished to have my opinion on the
morrow. "And why not to-night?" I asked, rubbing my hands over the
blaze, and wishing the whole tribe of scarabaei at the devil.
…”It is
the loveliest thing in creation!... It is of a brilliant gold color — about the
size of a large hickory-nut — with two jet black spots near one extremity of
the back, and another, somewhat longer, at the other. The antennae are —… The
color… You never saw a more brilliant metallic lustre than the scales emit…”
"Dey
aint no tin in him, Massa Will, I keep a tellin on you," here interrupted
Jupiter; "de bug is a goole bug, solid, ebery bit of him, inside and all,
sep him wing — neber feel half so hebby a bug in my life."…
"Well!"
I said, after contemplating it for some minutes, "this is a strange
scarabaeus, I must confess: new to me: never saw anything like it before —
unless it was a skull, or a death's-head — which it more nearly resembles than
anything else that has come under my observation."
It
was a beautiful scarabaeus, and, at that time, unknown to naturalists — of
course a great prize in a scientific point of view. There were two round, black
spots near one extremity of the back, and a long one near the other. The scales
were exceedingly hard and glossy, with all the appearance of burnished gold.
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