Bug FAQPunctate Little Bear Scarab Beetle
Paracotalpa puncticollis · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Scarabaeidae
Also called: Punctate Bear Scarab Beetle
The punctate little bear scarab beetle lives in piñon-juniper ecosystems and feeds on juniper leaves. It is found from California east to New Mexico and is most active from February through May, with a peak in April.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
People often call Paracotalpa puncticollis the punctate little bear.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in piñon-juniper ecosystems.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It feeds on the leaves of juniper plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Biology is poorly understood, but adults are active from February to May, peaking in April.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The beetle’s activity period is February through May, with the highest numbers in April.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range extends from California to New Mexico in the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are punctate little bear scarab beetles active?
Adults are active from February to May, with the greatest activity in April.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find them?
They occur in piñon-juniper habitats from California to New Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Scarabaeidae)
Japanese BeetlePopillia japonicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common Green June BeetleCotinis nitidaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Phyllophaga crinitaDamages trees, gardens or crops
European Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Mediterranean Spotted ChaferOxythyrea funestaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Oriental BeetleExomala orientalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracotalpa_puncticollis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.