Since this specimen is both wild-caught and captive, I have specified its date of capture.

This specimen was found in the pool on a summery day. It could not fly and would probably starve to death as a result, so I kept it. I have noticed several interesting observations. If additional photographs are wanted, I may be able to provide them.

1. Since I have observed it actively attempting to mate, the insect is a male. It had a companion (now dead from accident), and they would take turns trying to mount and copulate with each other. Since females do not mount males and seem to only participate passively in mating, I am confident that the other one was also male (I told them apart by their different injuries). Male-male mating behavior is common among insects, according to research papers. Presumably it is evolutionarily better to be too eager than not.

2. Both males mentioned above would also attempt to copulate with my finger. This looks very different from defecation. This specimen was also witnessed apparently trying to mate with a metal food dish's edge.

3. Though wild Cotinis adults here are largely gone by the end of September, this specimen has lived to the present day. Wild specimens certainly do not freeze to death, because katydids and many other normally-annual insects take advantage of year-round mild weather here. Perhaps they starve to death after fruiting season ends. This insect did start showing many signs of old age by fall, but it has refused to die so far. Edit: It died some time in March.

4. The yellow border on the elytra has been somewhat scratched off in this picture, revealing green underneath. It was originally intact on the day of capture. The insect probably scratched it off after wiping its rear end frequently with those sharp tarsal claws.