Phanaeus vindex
Phanaeus vindex, the rainbow scarab (a name also used for the entire genus[1]), is a North American species of true dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is found in eastern and central United States (Florida and New England to Arizona and Wyoming) and in adjacent far northern Mexico.[2][3] It is the most widespread species of Phanaeus in the United States and it has a wide habitat tolerance.[2] It may hybridize with the generally less common P. difformis.[4]
| Phanaeus vindex | |
|---|---|
 | |
.jpg.webp) | |
| males | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Phanaeus |
| Species: | P. vindex |
| Binomial name | |
| Phanaeus vindex MacLeay, 1819 | |
Appearance
The head of P. vindex 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. Rarely, all black or dark blue individuals occur.[5]
The beetles are about 1–2.2 cm (0.4–0.9 in) long. Like many other Phanaeus species, males of P. vindex occur in a large-bodied and large-horned "major" morph and smaller-bodied and smaller-horned minor morph.[5]
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 other dung beetles, is not a pest, and plays an important role in reducing waste in the environment.
References
- "Genus Phanaeus - Rainbow Scarabs". BugGuide. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- "Species Phanaeus vindex - Rainbow Scarab". BugGuide. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- Zídek, J.; Edmonds, W.D. (2012). "Taxonomy of Phanaeus revisited: Revised keys to and comments on species of the New World dung beetle genus Phanaeus MacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Phanaeini)". Insecta Mundi. 2012 (274): 1–108. doi:10.5281/zenodo.5182095.
- "Phanaeus difformis Species Information". BugGuide.net. Iowa State University. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
- Paris, Thomson; Rohde, Barukh; College, Hunter; Kaufman, Phillip. "Rainbow scarab - Phanaeus vindex Macleay". Featured Creatures. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved 19 April 2022.