Figeater beetles are generally harmless and actually quite attractive. Unlike the East Coast beetles they are commonly mistaken for (green june beetles, Cotinis nitida, and Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica), fig beetles are not generally destructive as larvae (East Coast lookalikes can damage lawns). All of the beetles that can be called June bugs are treated in the same way. Order: Coleoptera: ... We didn't discuss whether they are harmful to the vegetation. UPDATE #2: Strong evidence is emerging this is not a Green June beetle, but a Figeater beetle. The adults that are plentiful now are seeking nectar. Adults bore into ripe fruit, leaving behind feces inside and on the blemished produce. In late summer when local fruit trees are heavy with over-ripe fruit, the fig beetles have a plentiful food source and emerge to eat and find mates. The listing below is a general indicator of insects, bugs and spiders that may be found in a given state. Ruben Martin Flies Recommended for you Learn backcountry knowledge and show off that you’re no longer an ignorant, doughy tenderfoot. Suddenly, a loud buzz and “WHACK!”, something the size of a large marble slams straight into the side of my face. A bloom will just be reaching fully open, and overnight will have been munched into a mere shadow of itself overnight by these damn things! As visually striking as these large beetles are, it is the fact that they are literally striking folks around L.A. that has our attention. Well, not exactly harmless--they eat my mature Roses! Figeater beetles are generally harmless and actually quite attractive. Fig beetles (Cotinis mutabilis), also known as figeater beetles or green fruit beetles, are a Southwestern species of beetle that careen through the air with the grace of a charging rhinoceros. He wants you to be prepared, be ready, face the challenges, plan for risks, thrill in the journey, and to not die dumb. These iridescent green figeater beetles are not really considered a pest. People often refer to these large (more than one inch in length) scarabs as “June Bugs.” That’s a total misnomer. Help us make our Exposition Park museum, and our L.A. community, a place where everyone can discover nature, science, and culture. The larvae eat decomposing organic matter, such as that found in compost piles, manure piles, and organic mulch, and occasionally plant roots, such as the roots of grass in lawns. Only adult beetles can chew fruit, the larvae don’t damage the food and thrive on mulch and manure piles. It’s a beautiful summer day in L.A. and I am strolling across a wide open lawn. This is also what creates the loud buzz they make when in flight. Unlike the East Coast beetles they are commonly mistaken for (green june beetles, Cotinis nitida, and Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica), fig beetles are not generally destructive as larvae (East Coast lookalikes can damage lawns). The beetle typically lives in tropical forests and jungles. The next week I saw a dead one on a porch in Utah (my home state). The beetle itself if not harmful to humans; just to the crops we grow. So, don’t begrudge the clumsy fig beetle. Following DRB may teach you anything from how to avoid gettin’ bit by a rattle snake, creating a sumptuous trailside meal, how to read a topo map, properly tying up a bear bag so his pals won’t gaffle your food during the night as your snore away in your human burrito bag, to campfire tales of epic mountain lore. A google search revealed they were Figeater beetles and "harmless", because they only feed on already damaged fruit. In fact, “crawly backs”, the 2-inch long grubs that eventually turn into our shiny beetle friends, are often found in compost piles helping breakdown our garden compost! To treat the grubs that cause lawn damage, you can apply an insecticide, like Sevin, to the lawn and then water the lawn to get the insecticide into the soil, or you can apply Bacillus thuringiensis or milky spore to the soil to kill the June bug grubs. Crawlybacks look like white caterpillars and spend winter and spring living under the cover of loose compost, eating decaying plant matter. The Figeater Beetle (Continus mutabilis) is a member of the scarab family of beetles and found throughout the South Western United States. Use physical barriers on your fruit trees and shrubs. What Types of Food Do People Eat in the United States? In large numbers, they can do more serious damage. I am guessing the poor thing was sick and not use to the colder weather we are having here. A bird sings sweetly and the whole scene is so idyllic it is cliché. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. However, its range has expanded over the last 40 years as home gardens, compost piles and similar gardening activities have become more common. Your email address will not be published. A number of beetles are known as 'June Bugs' and most of them get this designation for appearing in the month of June. Fig Beetle Facts Figeater beetles are generally harmless and actually quite attractive. Danger Ranger Bear is our resident, virtual campsite host, camp counsellor, and wilderness guide. Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. The sky is bright blue and decorated with scattered clouds. Learn about their control here. Part of this is surely pure mass, as fig beetles support a lot of weight as they fly around looking for food and mates. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus. Although the situation is rarely dangerous, it’s still important to refrain your dog from eating green beetles. The Country’s Most Dangerous Beetles Invasive beetles of various colors and sizes have infiltrated U.S. forests, despite efforts by government experts Figeater beetles can cause extensive injury in home lawns and gardens. Cotinis nitida is a large bronze and metallic green beetle that is often seen in June and July flying in low, lazy circles just a few inches above lawns or turf grass. Green June beetles (Cotinis nitida), also called fig beetles, are large, metallic-green insects with yellow stripes on the wings. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus. Required fields are marked *. Entries are listed below in alphabetical order. The figeater beetle is native to moister areas of the American southwest, where its natural diet includes fruit from cacti and sap from desert trees. Sometimes they are also referred to as May beetles and most of them are large in size (0.47 to 1.38 inches), clumsy fliers, eat plants and appear during summer… [1][3] The adult's primary food has become fruit in gardens and orchards.[1]. Are Figeater Beetles Dangerous? use escape to move to top level menu parent. They don't sting or bite and are not dangerous to humans, but they are not a 'nice bug'. Fig Beetle Facts. You just have to get used to getting whacked in the face on occasion. From Ralph on our comment board: “Cotinis nitida (Green June Beetle) is not found west of Texas (other than a single report in Az. ... but there's no doubt in my mind it was a figeater beetle. It does seem most insects slow down in the cold. Figeater Beetles are a common sight in southern Arizona during July, especially after the monsoon rains arrive in full force. First off, the fig beetles are NOT actually attacking. No adventure big or small was ever great, without a bit of danger. In peak season, try to make a habit of picking your fruit daily. You can check out this article on June bugs to see if you can identify the difference and to ensure which pest you’re dealing with. Danger Ranger Bear encourages you to be a friend to the wilderness when you get the call, and to the woodland creatures big or small. Figs are soft enough for them to pierce and break the skin.
They’ll approach 2” when fully grown. In large numbers, this weakens a plant and may cause it to die. On the contrary, Figeaters are only attracted to sweets and enjoy sugary sap and ripe fruit which is how they got their name. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Scientifically known as Cotonis mutabilis, and known as the Green Fruit Beetle or Fig Beetle. When the desert monsoons arrive in mid to late summer the now adult Figeaters noisily take to the skies in their new shiny green exoskeletons, looking to satisfy their sweet tooth. The figeater beetle is a native of the American southwest. It’s very common to see these guys bumbling and bouncing from one obstacle to the other until they find a shady tree to rest in. The sun shines with that lazy-afternoon-golden-California glow and the grass tickles my toes. The following menu has 2 levels. Originally they lived primary in arid regions such as the Sonoran Desert, but as agriculture spread, so did the Figeater. Meet the fig beetle. The term “crawly back” comes from the unique method of locomotion the grubs have where they flip onto their backs to scoot along (clumsy movement is clearly not restricted to adults!). Their ability to only eat soft and overripe fruit means they aren’t damaging to gardens since they are limited to only eating fruit that has already fallen or been pecked open by birds, which allows the beetles to munch on the soft fruit inside. Also, since they are thick-shelled and quite tough, I've never seen a Figeater Beetle injured by one of these unfortunate collisions. I moved him into a grassy area close to my school. Crawlybacks look like white caterpillars and spend winter and spring living under the cover of loose compost, eating decaying plant matter. It appeared to fly but it did not fly while in my hand. Figeaters begin their life as larva called Crawlybacks- named so because they prefer to travel while wiggling on their backs. 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