Cotinis mutabilis
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The figeater beetle (also green fruit beetle or fig beetle, Cotinis mutabilis) is a member of the scarab beetle family in the subfamily Cetoniinae, comprising a group of beetles commonly called flower chafers, since many of them feed on pollen, nectar, or petals. Its habitat covers primarily the southwestern United States (including California) and Mexico, extending south to northern South America. Within the figeater beetle's cuticle, twisted fibers are arranged in stacked layers. When light hits those layers, it bends and creates a distinct iridescent color. Figeater beetles are often mistaken for green June beetles (Cotinis nitida) and occasionally Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica), which occur in the Eastern US. C. mutabilis are also named by the synonym C. texana.
After mating, eggs are laid in decaying matter or compost piles, which provide sustenance for the emerging larvae. Oviposition takes place over an extended period of about three months, beginning in early August and continuing until the end of October. Eggs measure approximately 1.8 mm wide and 2.3 mm long and have a whitish color. In laboratory conditions with optimal temperatures, eggs hatch within... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masaya Volcano National Park | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | |
| 2 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tijuana | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Managua | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 6 | León | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 7 | Mesa | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Puebla | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 9 | Ciudad Juárez | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 10 | Las Vegas | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Figeater Beetle sighting in Zion National Park on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 48th most-seen of the 114 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Figeater Beetle in Zion National Park on a given day, against under 5% in October to June, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Figeater Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 6
Of the 6 parks where we can rate Figeater Beetle sightings, Zion National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Masaya Volcano National Park (Nicaragua, about 30%).
Same family: Scarabaeidae
The closest relatives of the Figeater Beetle that you can see in Zion National Park (family Scarabaeidae, Scarabs) are Western Rhinoceros Beetle (about 40%), Grant's Hercules Beetle (about 10%) and Ten-Lined June Beetle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Figeater Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Zion National Park (10 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
