Insect · GBIF taxon 1087542
Rainbow Scarab
Phanaeus vindexAlso known as Rainbow Dung Beetle, North American Rainbow Scarab
Rainbow scarabs gleam with metallic shades of emerald, copper, and radiant gold, with mature males sporting a prominent backward-curving horn on the head. Unlike ball-rolling dung beetles, these industrious tunnelers dig vertical shafts directly beneath manure piles to cache brood balls deep underground. Mated pairs often cooperate during excavation, efficiently burying waste, cycling soil nutrients, and suppressing pest flies across open habitats.
IridescentDecomposerDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mammal dung
- Rotting fruit
- Decomposing fungi
Predators
- American Crow
- Striped Skunk
- Eastern Mole
ThreatsVeterinary antiparasitic residues in livestock dung, habitat loss, and pesticide use
HabitatsPastures, grasslands, open woodlands, and sandy fields
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyScarabaeidae
- GenusPhanaeus
- SpeciesPhanaeus vindex
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans and safe to observe at close range.
Responsible observation
- Field Timing: Search open pastures, trails, and horse paddocks on warm, sunny spring and summer afternoons.
- Watching Behavior: Look beside fresh manure piles to observe them actively excavating subterranean burrows.
Image unavailableCompetitor 
Close Relative (c) Scott Holt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Scott Holt · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette · cc-by
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