Скачать или смотреть Rainbow Scarab (Phanaeus vindex)

Today's invertebrate is a real beauty! They may not have the cleanest job in the environment, but they sure are pretty. Continue reading to find out more on the rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex)!

The rainbow scarab belongs to the order Coleoptera which includes all beetles from the ladybug up to the rhinoceros beetle. This order is unique because the anterior pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases called elytra, protecting the posterior pair of functional wings. There are about 30,000 scarab species. The males and females are pretty similar to one another with only one difference; only the males have a black horn that curves back toward their thorax. Both males and females have a shiny, copper-colored thorax, with yellow or green on the sides. Their abdomen is metallic green, and their underbelly is black and green. Male and female work in pairs digging burrows beneath fecal matter. When digging, they will transport fecal matter down with them. This will be used by the females to lay their eggs in. The fecal matter also serves as a source of food for the hatching larva as they develop. They play an important role in reducing waste in the environment…it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Thank you rainbow scarab! 🙌