What kind of beetle is this? (PICS)

[Psycommu]

My dad and I were outside, and we found two beetles that we don't think we've ever seen before.
It's night, so we thought that might have something to do with it.
We live in Southwestern Ohio.

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22706967/SAM_0402.JPG[/img]

Size comparison to a penny:
[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22706967/SAM_0405.JPG[/img]

The other one we saw was a lighter brown then this.
It also has a dark blueish metallic like underbelly, and it's legs are like that, too.

We don't know what we would Google to find out something like this, so...
Does anyone know what kind of beetle this is?
And is it a beetle that causes problems for plants, trees, etc.?

[J.C.DentonUNATCO]

Looks like a "Potato bug"

At least that's what we call them in Kentucky. Sometimes a June Bug. Although we only call the dark purple ones june bugs.

[doomkiwi]

It's definitely a June Bug, but I'm not sure what the scientific name for it is.

[Mr. Khorn]

It's a june bug.

Best kill that fucker now. They always fly head forward into everything of mine.

I mean, the other day I saw one crawl into one of my old airsoft gun's barrel.

Safe to say, he is no longer of this world.

[Psycommu]

A June Bug!!?

Seriously, that's all it is?

We see those all the time, but they're never THIS big...
Usually they're small enough here to fit two on a dime.

Good God what are they eating?

[doomkiwi]

[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;36436503]A June Bug!!?

Seriously, that's all it is?

We see those all the time, but they're never THIS big...
Usually they're small enough here to fit two on a dime.

Good God what are they eating?[/QUOTE]

Your lawn.

[Daniel Smith]

Paul McCartney

[doomkiwi]

Voklswagen

[Psycommu]

[QUOTE=doomkiwi;36436560]Your lawn.[/QUOTE]

Okay, we need to stop buying Round Up.

They kill weeds really well but they obviously make giant, mutant june bugs.

[doomkiwi]

Hello, my name is Northern Masked Chafer, and I want to be your friend, eat your lawn, and show you pictures of my kids.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/16jYt.jpg[/IMG]

Isn't little billy cute?

Seriously though, they eat the roots of your grass.

[J.C.DentonUNATCO]

Wow, I just went outside to let my dogs out and the exact same bug was sitting on a bench. I underestimated its size, its about 2 or 3 times bigger than a June bug. I've never seen one exactly like that either. Weird.

[Psycommu]

We haven't had problems with them, but now since we've seen bloody huge ones, I think I should inform dad since he's the one who takes care of our lawn...

Thanks guys