Figeater beetle
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| Figeater beetle |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial |
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Cotinis mutabilis |
The figeater beetle is also known as the "June bug", "June beetle", and the "fig eater." June bugs, June beetles, and green fruit beetles are all beetles of the family of the dung beetles (Scarabaeidae).[1] People can be confused between figeater beetles and the Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata), which are alike in color, but a little bit smaller. People also can be confused between the figeater beetle and the European chafer (or "European June Bug"). Though their life cycles are very different, all of them are scarabaeidae, and have larvae that are white grubs.[2]
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Anatomy
When they become imagoes (an imago is an adult beetle), their sizes range from 2 cm to 3.5 cm [0.8 to 1.35 inches]. While larvae, they are white and grow to about 5cm [2 inches], with short hornlike projections on their heads. People can easily recognize adult beetles, since most of their bodies are bright green (their underside is shining green or gold). They hum noisily, and work during the day. Brown may or June beetles fly into lights on summer nights. The figeater beetle flies only in the daytime.
The larva of the figeater beetle is called a white grub. When they move, they use their thorax for moving instead of legs. Lice swarm on their backs. Ripe larvae make empty spaces in the soil and pupate there. They pupate in June and the adults emerge between July and August. There is one stage every year.[3][4]
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Natural History
The larval grubs feed on natural substances, often overripe figs or peaches, and grow fast. When the larvae infest lawns they can damage the roots.
Warmth given off by the fertilizer permits the beetles to stay energetic the whole year. The beetles tumble on their backs, using parts of bodies, not their legs, for dragging, when they concerned about their food. Throughout the Spring, under the earth rooms are made for the grubs where they pupate. After a few months, the mature beetles have wings.
The figeater can eat over-mellow or damaged by some animals grapes, peaches, and figs willingly, unfortunately their mouthparts are ineffectual, they can't chew most other plants up well. Natural plants, containing plant farina and fruit of indian fig, are seldom harmed at first by the beetles; they generally capitalized on damage done by other insects [5]
During early summer and fall, these queer and large green beetles can be seen in San Diego County. Thirty years ago, the beetles abound in the earth, the beetles breed their eggs during the fall in plant substance of rot, specifically in compost and backgarden piles of decay [6]
Ecology
Figeater beetles' ecologies are very unknown. Larvae live in the surface of soil. The larvae avoid the cold deep in the soil. In the Spring, they dig the soil to finding food. Grubs remain in the soil during the winter and pupate in late Spring or early summer.[7]
Related References
- Figeater beetle by Wikipedia
- June beetle
- Sdnhm
See Also
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