Cotinis mutabilis, figeater beetle

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leon_edmond

Registered:1188903453
Posts: 923

Posted 1472349403	Reply with quote #1

Having a bad infestation of these vermin this year. The first photo is a Longue D'Aout fig and the second photo is Triana.

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1472351284	Reply with quote #2

Wow its the year of the bug. I have huge black ants that attack a fig. Those beetles are nasty looking bugs. __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

Dave

Registered:1312388324
Posts: 1,482

Posted 1472353670	Reply with quote #3

Oh Man I'm sorry Leon those beetles look merciless __________________ Connecticut - Zone 6B Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada

bamafig

Registered:1424827282
Posts: 119

Posted 1472354401	Reply with quote #4

Those are June bugs. We used to tie a thread to a leg and let it fly in circles while we held the string...we didn't have cable or video games. __________________ zone 8 4 (local) Celeste, Papa John, LSU Purple, Green Ischia, Brunswick, italian honey, BT, Panache, Deanna, LSU Black, O'Rourke Wish list: Chicago Hardy, VDB, RDB

vito12831

Registered:1256950611
Posts: 840

Posted 1472356743	Reply with quote #5

Hi Leon. Sorry to see that. Try some beetle traps, I use Japanese beetle traps and they work pretty good. Good luck. Vito

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1472359663	Reply with quote #6

Years ago, I used to see these bugs on the milk thistle flower, but never on fruit. They must have acquired a taste for figs. Im hoping that by using a special net you're able to keep them away. So far I did not see any in my yard in TX. Attached Images image.jpeg (21.46 KB, 7 views) __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

venturabananas

Registered:1325740204
Posts: 16

Posted 1472361685	Reply with quote #7

I found one on my figs, too, which met an untimely death. But I later read that they only eat rotting fruit. Any truth to that?

Werter1

Registered:1471849164
Posts: 13

Posted 1472363021	Reply with quote #8

we have them too in Dalmatia. They eat matured fruit we leave for later harvest (for drying)

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1472368936	Reply with quote #9

Hi, why not take a bucket of warm water and shake the branch over. Here, you can see some, and if you get rid of them, you're freed from them. I get some but early in the year and by that time all they can feed on are the roses. They get in the flowers to eat pollen. I'm not a smelling addict so I have no problem with them. If you like to put your nose in every flower ... better check twice before ... Every now and then I like to check on the flowers ... "hoo such a beautiful flower..." and suddenly: "bheeeee " ... those things can scare and disgust one ... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

haslamhulme

Registered:1467664052
Posts: 246

Posted 1472373763	Reply with quote #10

Leon those guys look nasty,like something out of ancient Egypt!,maybe you should look up Cotinis mutabilisa recipes,get two crops for the price of one,I imagine they would make a nice crunchy fried snack,like fried corn :) __________________ Haroon,Birmingham UK,Europe,USDA zone 8 Growing:B.Turkey,Jerusalem,V.Dauphine,Pd.Dalmatie W.Adriatic, RDB,Goute D'or,W.Marsailles,Bavarian Violet,Ali Pasha,Falls Gold, Alma,W.Broggioto,Conadria,G.Ischia,Celeste,a dozen unknowns Deceased:Mission( received new cuttings from a generous member today,thank you!)

leon_edmond

Registered:1188903453
Posts: 923

Posted 1472392397	Reply with quote #11

Perhaps chocolate covered, eh?

figeater

Registered:1446540443
Posts: 93

Posted 1472399935	Reply with quote #12

Tastes like chicken! __________________ Casey Battle Ground, Wa /Zone 8a

leon_edmond

Registered:1188903453
Posts: 923

Posted 1472410273	Reply with quote #13

These guys are almost as big as chickens!

akrouus

Registered:1436231528
Posts: 146

Posted 1472413710	Reply with quote #14

those bugs are in my backyard for the first time this year, identical to the picture, only attacking my rob's GN. They seem to not be interested in the other figs. __________________ Nick Southern California

leon_edmond

Registered:1188903453
Posts: 923

Posted 1472425149	Reply with quote #15

This morning I picked up every fig that dropped on the ground and every fig that was overly ripe on my trees. I probably captured close to 20 or 30 of these beetles in the process. After I cleaned up my small collection, there were beetles flying around and they could not find overly ripe figs to land on. It was nice to see them buzz off.

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1472449671 · Edited	Reply with quote #16

Leon, welcome to the club. I can send you as many as you need. They will not buzz off for long. They also eat peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, bananas, etc. 1/4" bird net does a great job of keeping them out. !/2" mesh will keep out about 50%. If you have a few this year, you will have a lot more next year. You will find large white grubs in compost piles and rich soils, that are about 1-1/2" long. Nick, be patient, they will find the rest. Venturabananas, No. They will will eat nearly ripe fruit, as well. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1472457122	Reply with quote #17

These might force me to use permethrins or at least diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap, neem oil, dawn or similar stuff. They look awful! __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

Werter1

Registered:1471849164
Posts: 13

Posted 1472458799	Reply with quote #18

These bugs stink like hell and I haven't seen any bird eating them. Net is an option. Pyrethrins, soaps, oils etc are contact insecticides and work in higher doses. If you decide on them I'd try to use them first and subsequently spray with acceptable stomach poisons like neem, baccilus thurgensis..

C_Rad

Registered:1359013240
Posts: 1

Posted 1473262874	Reply with quote #19

My main reason for having fruit trees is so that I can let the fruit get fully ripe on the tree for max sweetness, and those (green june beetles) attack my fruit just before I want to pick it. I built a beetle trap from empty plastic bottles as show in this thread post. I baited it with 91% rubbing alcohol in a little bottle with a wick in it that I made. It caught and drowned about 15 of them the first day, and only a couple the second day. That must have been 95% of the beetles that knew about my tree because I only lost one or two figs to beetles after that. They lay eggs in the soil but prefer compost or manure, so I'm worried that next year's population might be large, and I'll be removing my compost pile. I'll make a few more traps this winter and be ready for them next summer. BTW: earlier in the year they went after my peaches. They attack any sweet ripe fruit with thin skin. __________________ San Diego - inland (zone 9b/10a)

tsparozi

Registered:1470160644
Posts: 302

Posted 1473267351	Reply with quote #20

Buggers! I hope never to see such an infestation; bad enough we have to deal with Japanese Beetles and 4 legged mammalian vermin... __________________ Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1473318931	Reply with quote #21

Leon, this is the Japanese Beetle. Last year i had the same thing happen to my Kadota. I immediately took worm tea & sprayed my tree. They left & have not come back! These beetles decimate trees in an instant! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

VeryNew2Figs

Registered:1441488407
Posts: 241

Posted 1473338156	Reply with quote #22

(jdsfrance, great minds think alike). Last year the June bugs were defoliating my raspberry bushes and I'd occasionally see them on the blackberry plants. I went old school with them. Every morning without fail and every few hours as time would permit I went out with my container of water with a little soap (to break the surface tension so they couldn't get out of the water) and knocked them into the water. This year I saw only a few, but they got the same treatment. __________________ Cheryl Chicago, Zone 6a (That's what they say, but it still feels like 5) Growing: Hardy Chicago, Black Mission, Brunswick, Kadota, Ischia Green, Desert King, Osborne Prolific (slow but steady), Malta Black, Violette de Bordeaux, Texas Everbearing, Beall, White Adriatic, Nolo Pink Eyed Lady. Rooting: Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Nero 600 m, Violetta Bayernfeing, Marseilles Black VS, Celeste.

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1473341061	Reply with quote #23

Quote: Originally Posted by venturabananas I found one on my figs, too, which met an untimely death. But I later read that they only eat rotting fruit. Any truth to that? Not true! They were eating my newly rippened Kadota figs last year! Oh, and they love corn too! They decimated a crop in a nearby garden! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1473341296	Reply with quote #24

Quote: Originally Posted by Werter1 These bugs stink like hell and I haven't seen any bird eating them. Net is an option. Pyrethrins, soaps, oils etc are contact insecticides and work in higher doses. If you decide on them I'd try to use them first and subsequently spray with acceptable stomach poisons like neem, baccilus thurgensis.. Just spray Worm tea! No need for pesticides. I wouldnt spray pesticides on my fruit or any vegetables at all especially when there is something easily available that works! Trust me, they were on my figs the same as they are on yours but they left the minute i sprayed! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

CliffH

Registered:1463781646
Posts: 125

Posted 1473341496	Reply with quote #25

Quote: Originally Posted by bamafig Those are June bugs. We used to tie a thread to a leg and let it fly in circles while we held the string...we didn't have cable or video games. I am glad to hear that I'm not alone in practicing this childhood entertainment. We all did the same thing (at least until the leg came off), and I have showed my young daughter how to do it too. Luckily we have not had an issue with them on our fruit trees. CliffH. __________________ Texas (N. Houston area) - zone 8b Wish List: Figo Preto, Col de Dame Blanca-Negra, Deanna, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Sollies, LSU Red (new)

tsparozi

Registered:1470160644
Posts: 302

Posted 1473341746	Reply with quote #26

Quote: Originally Posted by Smyfigs Just spray Worm tea! No need for pesticides. I wouldnt spray pesticides on my fruit or any vegetables at all especially when there is something easily available that works! Trust me, they were on my figs the same as they are on yours but they left the minute i sprayed! Could you please enlighten me as to what exactly worm tea is? Is a commercially available product or home remedy and if home remedy how to prepare same? If it would work on Japanese beetles and variants without collateral implications, I would love to use it in my garden to drive off those buggers.. Thanks, Tony __________________ Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1473373497	Reply with quote #27

Quote: Originally Posted by CliffH I am glad to hear that I'm not alone in practicing this childhood entertainment. We all did the same thing (at least until the leg came off), and I have showed my young daughter how to do it too. Luckily we have not had an issue with them on our fruit trees. CliffH. Lol...this is hilarious! We did the same thing when I was a kid. Just grab one and tie a string and let it fly out then real it back. Of course the leg would come off! But then there were so many that we could spend all day doing this! Lol...so much fun! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

bamafig

Registered:1424827282
Posts: 119

Posted 1473386207	Reply with quote #28

We also used to hit bumble bees with a tennis racket. It made a very distinct sound! When we tired of that, we would light a mik jug on a stick and "fire bomb" ant beds. It also created a distinct sound. __________________ zone 8 4 (local) Celeste, Papa John, LSU Purple, Green Ischia, Brunswick, italian honey, BT, Panache, Deanna, LSU Black, O'Rourke Wish list: Chicago Hardy, VDB, RDB

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1473396589 · Edited	Reply with quote #29

Quote: Originally Posted by bamafig We also used to hit bumble bees with a tennis racket. It made a very distinct sound! When we tired of that, we would light a mik jug on a stick and "fire bomb" ant beds. It also created a distinct sound. we also would buy crabs & tie a string on THEIR legg & walk them down the street like a pet..lol. Okay this is a silly thread now. Thx for good memories! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

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