Phanaeus vindex
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

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]

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.^[3]

This species, like other dung beetles, is not considered a pest, and plays an important role in reducing waste in the environment.

References