Rainbow scarab

Phanaeus vindex

''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.
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.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95977/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html
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

Appearance

The head is a metallic yellow color, and males have a black horn which curves backward toward the thorax. Both sexes have yellow antennae which can retract into a ball on the underside of the head. The thorax is a shiny coppery color, with yellow or green on the sides. The abdomen is metallic green. The underbelly is black and green. Body length is about 2–3 cm long.
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.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95979/rainbow_scarab_leg_-_phanaeus_vindex.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95976/rainbow_scarab_-_phanaeus_vindex.html
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/95978/rainbow_scarab_ventral_surface-_phanaeus_vindex.html Geotagged,Phanaeus vindex,Spring,United States

Behavior

Males and females work in pairs to dig burrows beneath animal excrement. They move some of the excrement down into the tunnel, where the female lays her eggs in it. The grubs feed on the excrement for several instars until pupating.

This species, like all dung beetles, are not pests, and play an important role in reducing fecal matter in the environment, thus reducing the number of disease spreading flies.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
FamilyScarabaeidae
GenusPhanaeus
SpeciesP. vindex