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Figeater Beetle

Cotinis mutabilis

Photo by Ava T-B
Published on Project Noah
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32.7249, -117.107

Field Notes

Description:

Green beetle almost an inch long native to the US Southwest. It goes through a grub phase in my compost bin. They are poor fliers and terrify people by landing in their hair, but they are completely harmless.
This one has Phoretic Mites who are not harmful to it but I think make it hard for it to fly.

Habitat:

In this case, an urban garden compost bin.

Notes:

Answered quickly by Ornithoptera80!!
I don't know what the orange stuff on this beetle is and would like help understanding it. Is it eggs? Illness?

Reference Links:

Figeater beetle - Wikipedia, Green June Beetles covered in Phoretic Mites - What's That Bug?

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Tukup
What an unusual spotting Ave. And thanks for the info Ornithoptera. Amazing that such an infestation isn't harmful.
Ornithoptera80
I remember seeing one of these mite "infested beetle" Cotinis mutabilis , when in Arizona a couple of years ago. But have never found them on Cotinis nitida before.
Ava T-B
Thanks you so much Ornithoptera80!! I hope I see the beetle again, I'll rinse it off and let it fly!
Ornithoptera80
The orange things on the beetle are Phoretic Mites, which are harmless and just want to hitch a ride to their food source since they cannot fly, or walk to eat. https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2012/07/22/green-june-beetle-covered-in-phoretic-mites/

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Southern California Wildlife
Photographed
PublishedAugust 13, 2021

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