Green June Beetle, Fig Beetle (Cotinis mutabilis)

Order: Coleoptera (ko-lee-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Scarabaeidae Genus: Cotinis Species: mutabilis Profile: 3 positives 3 neutrals 3 negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: Toney, Alabama Phoenix, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Deer, Arkansas Mammoth Spring, Arkansas Canoga Park, California Moreno Valley, California Reseda, California Calvert City, Kentucky Elephant Butte, New Mexico Tularosa, New Mexico New York, New York Fairborn, Ohio Etters, Pennsylvania Homer City, Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania Bulls Gap, Tennessee Sterling, Virginia Warrenton, Virginia Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive Xenomorf On Jul 25, 2006, Xenomorf from Valley of the Sun, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote: With it's deep vibrant geen color, this has been one of my favorite beetles. Neutral palmbob On Jul 31, 2006, palmbob from Tarzana, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: I would put this as a positive praise for this beetle since it is so beautiful, but not sure how destructive it is. I don't have fig trees, yet there are lot of these living in my little garden. Are they hurting anything? They dig a hole in a planter, and I'm sure there eventually is a huge grub down there (sometimes get dug up when a new plant is added), but how desctructive is that grub? When I had figs at my last house, these were menaces as they ate tons of figs. But I have to say I still loved seeing their vibrant colors, and the low, loud hum of their flight was a thrill to encounter (a bit scary at first, like a gigantic bee flying by). Seem to harmless to people as I have captured many to look at them and they seem to be incapable of biting. In my current garden, loaded with black widows, these seem like the ultimate meal for them, though usually too strong to get captured in their webs. Neutral Windy On Jul 13, 2007, Windy from Toney, AL (Zone 7a) wrote: These bugs are called Junebugs, but it was mid July this year when they emerged. Huge numbers of them rose from the lawn at one time. One female landed on the eaves and nearly a dozen males vied for her affection making a large pile obscurring her from view. Before I could get my camera, she fell to the steps with only two suitors remaining. See my pic. Neutral backdoc On Jul 17, 2007, backdoc from Homer City, PA wrote: I tolerate a lot of bugs in my garden, but this guy is so big, creepy and can't seem to help but "buzz" a person working in the garden. I am not sure why I have these beetles this year esp. here in PA, but I do wish they would go away. I garden organically, I suppose I will ignore them as I can see no damage being done. I have managed to drown a few in a bucket of rainwater left in the garden, accidentally of course. Positive wormlady72 On Sep 13, 2007, wormlady72 from Sacramento, CA wrote: I loved these beetles when I was a child. My brothers and I would catch them, tie a thread to one leg, and let them fly in circles above us! The humming sound was fantastic! They seemed none the worse for wear...That was in Garden Grove CA. Back then we called them Japanese beetles. Any idea why? Positive mojoghoti On Jul 8, 2008, mojoghoti from New York, NY wrote: My daughter and I encountered one of these in lower Manhattan this afternoon. It was stuck on its back, struggling, in the middle of a busy sidewalk; the iridescent green underside and wriggling legs were what caught our attention. We didn't know what kind of beetle it was, but we decided to pick it up and move it to a safer location before someone stepped on it. It seemed stunned at first, but after it rested a moment in my hand it flew away — my daughter commented at the time it sounded like a little airplane! We had to look it up when we got home, but there's no doubt in my mind it was a figeater beetle. I was a bit surprised since everything I found about the species says we're nowhere near its typical range. I wonder if this one was a rogue that caught a ride with a shipment of produce, or perhaps the species has actually spread this far to the north and east of the US. It was a gorgeous thing; we'll be on the lookout for more of them! Negative jungeoma On Jul 9, 2008, jungeoma from Tularosa, NM (Zone 7b) wrote: The Fig Beetle is a very destructive insect to anyone in the South-West with fruit trees. It will devour Peaches, Plums, Figs and any soft-skinned fruit that ripens after it's emergence. A large number of them will cluster on the fruit and ruin it for sale. Their feeding behaviour is very much like that of Japanese Beetles. AC Negative bubbabgone On Jul 19, 2008, bubbabgone from Etters, PA wrote: This is a very destructive bug to any soft fruit growing from Mid June through July. Plums, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, ... everything.They penetrate the skin and feed all day long. Their behavior is a lot like the Japanese beetle. Sex and food. And their appearance is coincident with the Japanese beetle. Sevin will control them. There's nothing I can find positive about these insects. Negative fiberholic On Aug 6, 2008, fiberholic from Saint David, AZ (Zone 8a) wrote: They will also devour an ear of corn in minutes. Very destructive. Fortunately for me I finally have chickens near my garden and they love the beetles so they are getting the population under control.

By Xenomorf By Xenomorf By Xenomorf By palmbob By palmbob By Windy By angele There are a total of 8 photos. Click here to view them all!