Cotinis impia
(Fall, 1905)
Cotinis impia is a scarab beetle in the Cotinis, first described by Fall in 1905. The is known from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Field observations indicate it has been collected on Baccharis sarothroides (desert broom), though additional associations remain poorly documented. Like other members of the genus Cotinis, it belongs to the flower chafer group within Scarabaeidae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cotinis impia: //koʊˈtaɪ.nɪs ˈɪm.pi.ə//
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Images
Habitat
Has been observed in desert wash with stands of Baccharis sarothroides growing along the sides. The type of habitat suggests association with xeric, riparian-influenced environments in the Sonoran Desert region.
Distribution
Recorded from Arizona, USA, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Distribution spans the Nearctic and in the southwestern North American desert region.
Host Associations
- Baccharis sarothroides - feeding or resting sitesingle specimen collected on this plant in Arizona
Similar Taxa
- Cotinis mutabiliscongeneric occurring in overlapping range; both are green June beetles that may utilize similar plants
- Cotinis nitidacongeneric with similar () and presumably similar appearance, though C. nitida is primarily eastern in distribution
More Details
Collection history
The appears to be rarely encountered. A 2018 collecting trip to Arizona specifically targeted this species based on a previous single specimen collection by Art Evans, but the search was unsuccessful despite checking multiple Baccharis sarothroides plants at the type locality area near Gleeson, Arizona.