Cotinis nitida (Linnaeus) 1764

Woodruff, Robert E., 2008, The genus Cotinis Burmeister in the eastern United States, with description of a new species from the Florida Keys, including a checklist of the genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (51), pp. 1-13 : 7-8

Cotinis nitida (Linnaeus) 1764

(Fig. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16)

This is the only other species of Cotinis in the eastern U.S., and it is treated here for comparison with the new species. It is often extremely common throughout most of the eastern United States ( Goodrich 1966), although there are no records of it from the Florida Keys. I previously listed it ( Woodruff 1973) as the only species of Cotinis from Florida. Adults have been recorded as a pest of many crops, where they feed on fresh fruits of peaches, pears, apples, figs, etc. It has acquired the common name of “Green June Beetle”, but it is not related to the “May or June Beetles” of the genus Phyllophaga Harris. However , most damage caused by the species results from high populations of larvae in sod, tobacco seedbeds, and other root crops. Hundreds of papers treat the economic nature of the species, but only a few are cited here (e.g., Brandhorst-Hubbard et al. 2001; Davis and Luginbill 1921).

General description (Fig. 4). Dorsally dull or matte, with almost no shining areas except head. Dark green, often with varying pattern of dull orange borders. Easily recognized by the photos presented here.

Nomenclature. Many synonyms (8) were listed by Goodrich (1966), and 11 are listed in the catalogue of Nearctic species ( Poole and Gentili 1996), in which the generic name was incorrectly considered masculine, and the specific name erroneously changed to “ nitidus ” to agree in gender. The more recent checklist by Smith (2003) correctly listed the specific names with feminine terminations and listed the 11 synonyms discussed above.

Behavior. While organizing the initial survey for the new species, I reviewed most of the literature on C. nitida , searching for information on attractants and mating behavior. Muma (1944) indicated that caproic acid was used as an attractant. Beckham and Dupree (1952) considered several attractants and discussed seasonal occurrence. Subsequently,

Landolt (1990) discovered that adults were at-

tracted to ispropanol.

Baker and Monroe (2005) studied the sensillae

on adult and larval antennae. Patton (1956) re-

ported mating behavior and swarming.

Brandhorst-Hubbard et al. (2001) studied oviposi-

tion sites and food preferences. Domek and Johnson

(1987,1988) investigated sex pheromones and ag-

gregations

Florida records. Records from the Division of

Plant Industry (Florida Department of Agriculture )

data base and specimens in the Florida State Col-

lection of Arthropods include the following coun-

ties (nearly statewide): Alachua, Broward, Char-

lotte, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Duval, Highlands,

Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange,

Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, and St. Lucie. Peck

and Thomas (1998) listed only “ALA[chua] and

MARI[on]” counties in Florida.