A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Cotinis mutabilis
A beautiful green scarab that emerges in June and July in Oaxaca. It has an orange band along the sides of the elytra. It is dull metallic green above and shiny metallic green on the underside. It is commonly called "Mayate". The head is ornamented like a medieval helmet.
In a garden in the center of the City.
The larvae of this beetle can be found in Cow Plops (Bovine excrement) or in the ground, feeding on roots. In Wikipedia it mentions they are a pest of grass roots and in Oaxaca it is credited for damaging the roots of the "Laurel de la India" (Ficus nitida). It is common in the summer around the Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban, flying around the mesquites. It is active in the daytime and sounds like a large bumblebee when it flies.
Spotted on Jun 6, 2013
Submitted on Jun 10, 2013
3 Comments
Yes, a look-alike. Just that characteristic triangle missing in the thorax.
You're right Mark, no scutellum! That's what makes it so odd looking! The scutellum either fused with the thoracic plate or it could be only a remnant that is the tiny blip visible in the 1st and 5th pictures.
That's an interesting one. No scutellum. Nice shots Lauren.