Figeater

Figeater beetle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Scarabaeidae Subfamily: Cetoniinae Tribe: Cetoniini Genus: Cotinis Species: C. mutabilis
Binomial name
Cotinis mutabilis Gory & Percheron, 1883

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Figeater beetle

The figeater beetle (Cotinis mutabilis, or incorrectly Cotinis texana), also known as the June bug or June beetle, green fruit beetle, and several other local variants, is a beetle of the family of the dung beetles, the Scarabaeidae. It occurs in the southern half of North America.

Description

Imago (adult beetles) of the figeater reach sizes of 2.0 to 3.44 cm (1.25 in). They are a dull green on the top and a brilliant iridescent green on the underside and legs. They are active during daylight hours, often congregating in the shade of trees near choice breeding grounds to find mates. They make a loud buzzing sound similar to that of large bees.

Various larval stages; one shows typical C-shaped position; another stretches out upside down to move--legs are visible at upper end.

Larvae grow up to 5 cm (2 in) and are thick and white with a dark head. They have six small, ineffectual legs—to move, they roll onto their backs and propel themselves upside down. At rest, they curl into a firm C shape.

Life cycle

Adults appear during late Spring, or early Summer, most often in the month of June. They feed on very ripe, over ripe or soft fruits, such as figs, or peaches; they can't penetrate the skin of thicker fruits or of tougher greenery. More damage is done by the larvae, which thrive in decaying organic matter such as compost piles and also burrow into turf and feed on the roots of grass, where they can severely damage a lawn.

Pest control

Because they thrive in urban compost piles, frequent turning of the piles to expose the larvae to predators and to pick them out of the pile is the most effective nonchemical treatment.

Taxonomy

The figeater should not be confused with rose chafer, Cetonia aurata, which is a related but slightly smaller beetle of similar color.

Other beetles that have some resemblance to figeater are European chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis), which has a completely different life cycle; the June bugs (Phyllophaga), which are native to eastern North America; and the summer chafer (or "European June bug", Amphimallon solstitiale), which emerges in June and has a two-year life cycle. All of these are Scarabaeidae, have white grubs and are turf pests, too.

External links

• Basic information from San Diego Natural History Museum
• Several photos of adults with narrative
• From Sonora Desert Museum, discussion of some composting beetles
• Detailed description of Green June Beetle (Cotinis nitida L.), common to eastern U.S., which shares many characteristics

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