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Rainbow Scarab - Phanaeus vindex I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html" title="Rainbow Scarab Leg - Phanaeus vindex"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/95979_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=dmoh3yw4S4wxguC8Tnv%2FWzGIUVM%3D" width="200" height="108" alt="Rainbow Scarab Leg - Phanaeus vindex Check out this hind leg!<br /> <br /> I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95976/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95978/rainbow_scarab_ventral_surface-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95976/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html" title="Rainbow Scarab - Phanaeus vindex"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/95976_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=auqZy4tiIFCQeJwrwCDb7v3o9k4%3D" width="128" height="152" alt="Rainbow Scarab - Phanaeus vindex I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95978/rainbow_scarab_ventral_surface-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States,beetle,burrowing dung beetle,dung beetle,rainbow scarab,scarab" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95978/rainbow_scarab_ventral_surface-_phanaeus_vindex.html" title="Rainbow Scarab Ventral Surface- Phanaeus vindex"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/95978_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=cpMKsAvZv2X6eDeELUvl%2BNmwwEw%3D" width="136" height="152" alt="Rainbow Scarab Ventral Surface- Phanaeus vindex Shiny, rainbow femurs!!<br /> <br /> I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95976/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States" /></a></figure> Geotagged,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States Click/tap to enlarge

Rainbow Scarab - Phanaeus vindex

I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.

Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released


FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.

Rainbow Scarab Leg - Phanaeus vindex Check out this hind leg!<br /> <br /> I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95976/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95978/rainbow_scarab_ventral_surface-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States

Rainbow Scarab - Phanaeus vindex I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95978/rainbow_scarab_ventral_surface-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States,beetle,burrowing dung beetle,dung beetle,rainbow scarab,scarab

Rainbow Scarab Ventral Surface- Phanaeus vindex Shiny, rainbow femurs!!<br /> <br /> I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released<br /> <br /> FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95976/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States

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The Rainbow scarab

''Phanaeus vindex'', the ''rainbow scarab'' or ''rainbow scarab beetle'' is a North American dung beetle, with a range from the eastern US to the Rocky Mountains.

Info 4 0
Similar species: Beetles
Species identified by Christine Young
View Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jun 19, 2020. Captured Jun 19, 2020 01:16 in 5 East St, New Milford, CT 06776, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS 90D
  • f/5.0
  • 1/197s
  • ISO500
  • 100mm