Cotinis mutabilis!

Jul 29, 2015

• #1

Smokehound714

Arachnoking

Joined

Mar 23, 2013

Messages

3,091

The southwest counterpart of Cotinis nitida, however, mutabilis is not the pest that nitida is, and strongly prefers detritus and rotting vegetation as opposed to nitida, which are known to devastate lawns in summer.


In addition to those differences, mutabilis grows much larger, in excess of 30mm. They're still a pest of soft skinned stone fruits and figs, hence the name 'Fig Beetle".

I'm actually breeding these en masse, right now. The larvae get pretty big- around 2-2.5"!

 

Aug 4, 2015

• #2

B

buddah4207

Arachnoknight

Joined

Jan 18, 2013

Messages

167

Those are stunning beetles

 

Aug 4, 2015

• #3

MantidMaster

Arachnophile

Old Timer

Joined

Feb 8, 2014

Messages

86

I am also breeding some of those too! I once caught one that was about 40 millimeters. I was very big!

 

Aug 4, 2015

• #4

klawfran3

Arachnolord

Old Timer

Joined

Feb 6, 2013

Messages

645

But don't they only feed on already damaged fruit? that doesn't really make them a pest because people wouldnt have eaten it anyways.

 

Aug 6, 2015

• #5

M

myrmecophile

Arachnolord

Old Timer

Joined

Dec 22, 2006

Messages

654

They will hit undamaged fruit as well.

 

Aug 7, 2015

• #6

Smokehound714

Arachnoking

Joined

Mar 23, 2013

Messages

3,091

if the fruit is soft enough they can tear it open.

 

Aug 22, 2015

• #7

Tenevanica

Arachnodemon

Joined

Feb 18, 2015

Messages

726

If the breeding attempt works will you be selling these? I want one SO BAD!

 

Aug 22, 2015

• #8

Smokehound714

Arachnoking

Joined

Mar 23, 2013

Messages

3,091

Tenevanica said:

If the breeding attempt works will you be selling these? I want one SO BAD!

Click to expand...

It'll work. they're easy to keep. a mixture of cornmeal and birdseed and boiled veggies is an excellent food for them.

 

Aug 23, 2015

• #9

Tenevanica

Arachnodemon

Joined

Feb 18, 2015

Messages

726

Yes, but how can I buy them from you?

 

Aug 25, 2015

• #10

Smokehound714

Arachnoking

Joined

Mar 23, 2013

Messages

3,091

I've got some larvae, now! Should have quite a large number of them, my females are still digging down and laying eggs.

Pulled up 26 in just a few minutes of searching around.

---------- Post added 08-25-2015 at 06:21 PM ----------

MantidMaster said:

I am also breeding some of those too! I once caught one that was about 40 millimeters. I was very big!

Click to expand...

That's about how large the adult pictured is!

 

Sep 2, 2015

• #11

D

DETHCHEEZ

Arachnosquire

Joined

Feb 11, 2010

Messages

71

Smokehound714 said:

It'll work. they're easy to keep. a mixture of cornmeal and birdseed and boiled veggies is an excellent food for them.

Click to expand...

Organic compost is also a great substrate & food source

I'm plant /slash/ garden veggie freak
Amongst other things
&
My compost pile is FULL of them