Bug ID?

[emrldthumb]

Obviously it's some kind of beetle, not sure how it got in the grow room though. Any guesses what this guy is? Please tell me he's not a vegetarian....

View attachment IMG_20150225_000401.jpg

 

[Hackerman]

Looks a little like a red and black beetle - Anthocomus equestris

Doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on it. I did a couple quick searches and didn't come up with much.

 

[emrldthumb]

I was thinking maybe in this genus?

http://bugguide.net/node/view/103953

 

[emrldthumb]

I think you nailed it:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/50127

Herbaceous plants? Check. Attracted to lights? Check. Now what does it EAT?

 

[emrldthumb]

Whew, crisis averted, this is about that family of beetle:

Food
chiefly insects but food preferences vary; adults evidently feed on flower-visiting insects and pollen, larvae are primarily predators of other insects

 

[Rosebud]

Any bug that cute has to be a beneficial. awesomeness.