Other Common Names
Green Fruit Beetle, Figeater Beetle
Explanation of Names
Cotinis mutabilis (Gory & Percheron 1833)
Identification
C. mutabilis is the most widespread and highly variable species within the genus. Literally dozens of forms, often quite different in appearance, appear throughout its range.
(1)
Hind legs are generally unicolorous. In C. nitida, the femurs are usually pale yellowish.
but note, there are some spmns with partially pale hind femora, e.g.:
The pygidium is mostly unicolorous in C. mutabilis. In C. nitida it is more strongly bicolored.
but note that some C. mutabilis spmns have bicolored pygidia
Range
CA to c. TX / Mex. to Costa Rica -
Map (1)(2)Season
mostly: June-Oct (BG data)
Food
Adults feed on ripe fruit and sometimes sap.
Life Cycle
oviposits in late summer in decaying organic matter (e.g. compost, dung) where larvae develop; pupates in spring, adults emerge in mid- to late summer
See Also
Goodrich's (1966) key to separating nitida from mutabilis:
Pygidium bicolored, apical portion testaceous, basal portion green; hind femora pale - nitida
Pygidium unicolorous; hind femora colored as the tibiae -
mutabilis (1)
