South Texas Coastal Cotinis
Cotinis boylei
This record describes Cotinis boylei (species). Recorded family: Scarabaeidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Type Locality is Bastrop State Park . ( 3 ) Texas considers this to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Scarabaeoidea
- Family
- Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cetoniinae
- Tribe
- Gymnetini
- Genus
- Cotinis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas Endemic. Bastrop and Bexar Counties south to Brooks and Kenedy Counties in south Texas - Map (A good place to look for this bug is at the Brooks County Safety Rest Area , on US 281, approximately 9 miles south of Falfurrias, southwest of Corpus Christi.)
Seasonal Activity
January, April, July, October per specimens in the TAMUIC
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unlike the common Cotinis spp., C. boylei won't come to sugar baits.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Cotinis boylei. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of South Texas Coastal Cotinis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Bbarnd
Frequently Asked Questions About South Texas Coastal Cotinis
What is South Texas Coastal Cotinis?
South Texas Coastal Cotinis (Cotinis boylei) is a species in the family Scarabaeidae, within the order Coleoptera.
Where is South Texas Coastal Cotinis found?
Range: Texas Endemic. Bastrop and Bexar Counties south to Brooks and Kenedy Counties in south Texas - Map (A good place to look for this bug is at the Brooks County Safety Rest Area , on US 281, approximately 9 miles south of Falfurrias, southwest of Corpus Christi.)
What does South Texas Coastal Cotinis eat?
The diet of the South Texas Coastal Cotinis includes Unlike the common Cotinis spp., C. boylei won't come to sugar baits..
When is South Texas Coastal Cotinis active?
South Texas Coastal Cotinis: seasonal activity - January, April, July, October per specimens in the TAMUIC.