The mayate (Cotinis mutabilis) is an insect belonging to the Scarabaeidae family. It is characterized by its typical green coloration and by its habit of feeding on ripe fruits, especially figs. This is why the insect is also known as a fig-eating beetle. This species, belonging to the genus Cotinis, was first identified and described by the French entomologists Gory & Percheron in 1883.
This beetle is exclusive to the American continent, specifically some Central American countries such as Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica, as well as some southern states of the United States. It is also characterized by the peculiar sound that its wings make when it flies. This, among other aspects, allows specialists to differentiate them from other species.
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Cotinis mutabilis it is an insect and as such is considered a multicellular eukaryotic organism. Inside its cells there is an organelle called the cell nucleus, within which is the genetic material (DNA) packaged to make up the chromosomes.
Likewise, this animal is multicellular because it is made up of different types of cells, which during their embryonic development differentiated and specialized in certain functions.
Continuing with embryonic development, this insect is a triblastic organism, since it presents the three embryonic or germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. The cells that make them up are specialized and transformed into the different tissues and organs that will constitute the adult individual..
If an imaginary line is drawn along the longitudinal axis of this animal, two exactly equal halves are obtained. This allows us to affirm, without any doubt, that it has bilateral symmetry.
They are heterotrophic herbivorous animals that feed on the leaves and fruits of plants that abound in the ecosystem in which they inhabit..
Regarding its reproduction, it is sexual, with internal fertilization and indirect development. The latter is so because the animal must go through a series of larval stages until it becomes an adult..
Also in regards to development, they are oviparous because they develop by eggs.
Cotinis mutabilis It is a large, robust-looking insect. Its standard measurements are approximately 4 cm. The shape of its body is slightly pentagonal. Its color is quite striking, being an opaque green, but presenting a metallic hue on the edge. The legs also share this tonality.
As in all insects, its body is divided into three areas: head, thorax and abdomen..
The head is the smallest part. In it there is a pair of antennas, which can be used to detect odors and feel the territory. In addition to this, they present a small horn that is flattened, pointed and has a vertical elevation position..
Three pairs of appendages emerge from the thorax that constitute the legs. Some of these may have structures called silks. Similarly, two pairs of wings are born from the thorax. One pair of wings is flexible and membranous and is protected by a pair of rigid wings.
The abdomen is the last segment of the body and in it are housed all the organs that make up the different systems of the individual (respiratory, circulatory, digestive). The shape of the abdomen can serve to differentiate the females from the males, since in the latter their shape is concave.
The taxonomic classification of Cotinis mutabilis is the next:
This insect is distributed in the countries that make up Central America and in the southern part of the United States.
Its habitat is represented by forests and mainly agricultural areas. Adults are generally seen only in summer. They are located in places where there is an abundance of vegetation and trees that produce fruits, which constitute their food..
The type of reproduction that is observed in this insect is sexual. This consists of the union or fusion of a female sex cell (gamete) with a male one. The type of fertilization is internal, since it occurs inside the female's body, through copulation.
Now, as with many members of the animal kingdom, these insects present a series of behaviors that together are known as mating rituals..
In this sense, it is the female who is in charge of attracting the male. It achieves this thanks to the release of chemicals known as pheromones. These are perceived by males and generate in them a series of stimuli related to mating..
Once the male responds to the stimulus of the pheromones, he approaches the female and the mating process begins, with the consequent fertilization. In this sense, it is important to note that fertilization occurs within the body of the female, so it is internal.
When fertilization occurs, the female proceeds to lay the eggs. For this, look for the ideal site, which is represented by humid tropical soil. There the female digs a small hole, with the help of her appendages and lays the eggs. Importantly, the female lays eggs twice after fertilization.
The eggs remain where the female laid them for an incubation period of approximately 15 days. After this time, they hatch and a larva emerges from them.
It is the first stage in the life of this insect. They are characterized by the fact that they feed almost exclusively on decomposing organic matter.
The larvae can hibernate for a few months. At the end of the larval period, they make a kind of cover that will allow them to develop inside. It is also important to know that the larvae of the Mayates experience a total of two molts, until they reach stage 3.
As in many insects, the pupal stage is when the animal undergoes the most changes and acquires the definitive characteristics that will identify the adult individual. In this insect, this phase lasts approximately a little more than 15 days..
It is the final stage in the life of Cotinis mutabilis. It begins when the adult insect emerges from the pupa, ready for mating.
Power supply Cotinis mutabilis it depends on the stage you are in. This is how the larvae have a totally different diet from that of the adult insect..
The larvae feed exclusively on decomposing organic matter. This is because, generally, they are found developing in the manure of mammals such as pigs..
In the case of the adult insect, it is clearly herbivorous, since it feeds on fruits, specifically those that are mature. So much so that in some localities it is known as the "fig-eating beetle".
Among the fruits on which this beetle mainly feeds, we can mention figs, grapes and apples, among others. The diet is not limited exclusively to fruits, but can also feed on other substances produced by plants, very rich in sugars, such as the nectar of some flowers.
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