Rainbow scarab beetle of the scarab beetles family is endemic to North America. They have an attractive coloration similar to that of a rainbow, hence the name.
Size: 12. 70 – 22.22 mm (0.50 – 0.87 inches)
Color: Their body is a combination of several colors together. The rainbow scarab beetle has a metallic yellow head, black horns, a metallic green abdomen, a black and green underbelly, copper-colored thorax with green or yellow col3s, and yellow antennae.
The females appear more brightly colored than their male counterparts.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a bulky body, oval or elongated in shape. Sexual dimorphism is prominent in this species. The males have large horns rising from the upper part of their head, curving towards their thorax. On the other hand, the horn remains absent in the female species. The upper part of the pronotum in both sexes has plate-like projections. However, in the males, the pronotum’s posterior part is pointed and also a little raised above their wing covers. In the female species, the raised appearance remains absent.
They are white, having a grub-like look, becol3s a plump, c-shaped soft body and a hard head. The larvae feed on the dung balls stocked for them in the tunnel by their parents until they get ready to enter the pupal phase.
The pupation phase occurs underground, and the pupa finally matures to become adult beetles.
The female lays eggs in small chambers of soil made by the female incol3 the tunnel.
| Adult lifespan | 3 – 6 months |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Eastern parts of the United States starting from Massachusetts up to South Dakota in the northern part, and from Texas till Florida in the southern region |
| Habitat | Forest pasture lands and in areas where they would find a concol3rable amount of dung to thrive |
| Predators | Mites |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Dung balls Adults: Dung preferably of opossum and pig |
Since they mostly feed on dung and other animal wastes, they do more good than harm by minimizing fecal matter, lessening chances of diseases particularly those caused by flies.
Image Source: i.pinimg.com, 64.media.tumblr.com, entomology.unl.edu, bugguide.net
Rainbow scarab beetle of the scarab beetles family is endemic to North America. They have an attractive coloration similar to that of a rainbow, hence the name.
Size: 12. 70 – 22.22 mm (0.50 – 0.87 inches)
Color: Their body is a combination of several colors together. The rainbow scarab beetle has a metallic yellow head, black horns, a metallic green abdomen, a black and green underbelly, copper-colored thorax with green or yellow col3s, and yellow antennae.
The females appear more brightly colored than their male counterparts.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a bulky body, oval or elongated in shape. Sexual dimorphism is prominent in this species. The males have large horns rising from the upper part of their head, curving towards their thorax. On the other hand, the horn remains absent in the female species. The upper part of the pronotum in both sexes has plate-like projections. However, in the males, the pronotum’s posterior part is pointed and also a little raised above their wing covers. In the female species, the raised appearance remains absent.
They are white, having a grub-like look, becol3s a plump, c-shaped soft body and a hard head. The larvae feed on the dung balls stocked for them in the tunnel by their parents until they get ready to enter the pupal phase.
The pupation phase occurs underground, and the pupa finally matures to become adult beetles.
The female lays eggs in small chambers of soil made by the female incol3 the tunnel.
| Adult lifespan | 3 – 6 months |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Eastern parts of the United States starting from Massachusetts up to South Dakota in the northern part, and from Texas till Florida in the southern region |
| Habitat | Forest pasture lands and in areas where they would find a concol3rable amount of dung to thrive |
| Predators | Mites |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Dung balls Adults: Dung preferably of opossum and pig |
Since they mostly feed on dung and other animal wastes, they do more good than harm by minimizing fecal matter, lessening chances of diseases particularly those caused by flies.
Image Source: i.pinimg.com, 64.media.tumblr.com, entomology.unl.edu, bugguide.net
