Southern California residents are contending with an annual seasonal invasion as clumsy, heavy-bodied figeater beetles emerge in large numbers across the region. According to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, these large green insects—often mistaken for June bugs—typically surface during the summer months to feed on ripening fruit and find mates.
What Are Figeater Beetles and Where Do They Come From?
Figeater beetles (Cotinis mutabilis) belong to the scarab beetle family and are native to the American Southwest and Mexico. According to entomologists at the University of California, Riverside, the insects spend most of their lives underground as white grubs before pupating and emerging as adult beetles during the warm summer months. They are easily recognized by their metallic green coloration and their heavy, clumsy flight pattern, which often causes them to bump into walls, windows, and unsuspecting humans.
Why Do They Swarm Southern California Yards?
Adult figeater beetles are attracted to moisture, heat, and especially ripening or decaying fruit. According to pest management specialists with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, suburban yards in Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire provide an ideal habitat because of residential landscaping, lawns, and fruit trees such as figs, peaches, and grapes. While their loud buzzing and sudden appearances can startle homeowners, experts note that the beetles do not bite, sting, or carry diseases.
How to Manage Figeater Beetles in the Garden
Homeowners looking to protect their backyard fruit trees can take several steps to deter figeater beetles without relying on harsh chemicals. According to the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM), effective management strategies include:
- Harvesting fruit promptly: Pick fruit as soon as it ripens and remove fallen fruit from the ground immediately so it doesn’t attract more bugs.
- Using netting: Cover sensitive fruit trees with fine mesh netting to physically block the beetles from reaching the crop.
- Handpicking: Because figeater beetles are slow and mostly active during the heat of the day, gardeners can knock them into a bucket of soapy water.
- Avoiding insecticides: UC IPM advises against broad-spectrum insecticides, as they often kill beneficial insects and rarely provide effective control against flying adult beetles.
Looking Ahead: The Lifespan of the Summer Surge
The figeater beetle population surge typically peaks in July and August before declining by the time autumn temperatures arrive. According to regional entomology reports, the adult beetles live for only a few weeks, during which time they mate and lay eggs in moist organic soil or compost piles, ensuring the cycle will repeat the following summer.