It belongs to the subfamily Cetoniinae, comprising a group of beetles commonly called flower chafers since many of them feed on pollen, nectar, or petals.

Figeater beetle larvae, commonly called "crawly backs",[3] grow up to 2 in (5.1 cm) and are thick and white with a dark head.

[4] They are active during daylight hours, often congregating in the shade of trees near choice breeding grounds to find mates.

They make a loud buzzing sound similar to that of carpenter bees, possibly because they do not need to open their elytra in order to fly, an ability shared with many other flower beetles.

[1] The figeater beetle is native to moister areas of the American southwest, where its natural diet includes fruit from cacti and sap from desert trees.