This clumsy green beetle is buzzing all over L.A. It might just crash into your face

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred Whiz! Bang! Pow!It’s not ’60s-era Batman, it’s a large metallic-green beetle.And it’s heading straight for your face.Parts of Los Angeles are abuzz with hordes of figeater beetles, also known as green fruit beetles or Cotinis mutabilis.

About an inch long, they’re hard to miss — and are known for careening into unsuspecting bystanders.That’s not typical behavior for insects, according to Megan Barkdull, assistant curator of entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.“I think a lot of the reason why they’re so clumsy is because they’re so large and they’re flying with these relatively small wings, so it’s pretty hard for them to kind of control that flight trajectory and avoid bumping into you,” Barkdull said.There’s a common misconception that the beetles are blind.But their eyes function just fine, she added.August is peak season for the bugs in L.A., she said, citing data from iNaturalist, a citizen science app.

Sightings begin around June and ramp up in July before slowly tapering down through the fall.Part of the scarab family, the beetle has an apt name: they munch on soft-skinned fruits such as figs and grapes.They appear to be thriving, and not just in the City of Angels.In recent years, they’ve expanded their range.

In 2009, they were first spotted in Utah.Three years later, they were found in Colorado.

Southern California is firmly within their native range, but Barkdull believes their population size here has likely increased.What’s behind the beetlemania? Barkdull pointed to a combination of factors driven by us: humans.We have created compost piles, where beetle larvae often feed.

We irrigate our lawns and other greenery, which is a boon to the beetles because they need moist landscapes.We plant fruit trees, which provide the insects wit...