#phanaeus

[cnestus]

Phanaeus quadridens male and female, collected in arizona, 2014

[mxmade-up]

I want to share my top 3 bugs

[feral-babe]

The Sun

The Sun Card radiates with the brilliance of optimism and enlightenment. It is a symbol of pure, unadulterated joy, casting its golden rays upon a world of boundless possibilities. In its essence, the Sun Tarot Card teaches us the lessons of illumination and clarity, dispelling the shadows of doubt and uncertainty.

Much like the Sun, the rainbow dung beetle stands as a testament to the enduring power of light and positivity in the face of life's trials. This remarkable beetle, adorned with an iridescent sheen, emerges from the hidden depths of dung piles. They tirelessly convert waste into new life, representing the relentless pursuit of purpose and transformation even in less than ideal circumstances. They symbolize the importance of finding value and purpose in what others may deem repugnant or insignificant. Just as the Sun shines its light on all without discrimination, dung beetles play a crucial role in recycling and renewing ecosystems.

Furthermore, the Sun Tarot Card encourages us to embrace our authentic selves, basking in the warmth of self-expression. Dung beetles, too, exhibit authenticity in their unwavering commitment to their role in nature, reminding us that our actions, however modest, can have far-reaching effects. It prompts us to recognize that we are all part of a greater whole, and our well-being is intertwined with the health of our environment.

In essence, the Sun Tarot Card and dung beetles both remind us that even in life's darkest corners or beneath layers of adversity, there exists the potential for growth, joy, and radiant transformation. By embracing our authentic selves and finding purpose in all that we do, we, like the dung beetle, can shine brightly. They urge us to embrace the simple pleasures of life, to bask in the warmth of happiness, and to share our radiance with others. Just as the Sun nourishes life on Earth, our positivity and enthusiasm can nurture the world around us.

Prints available on Redbubble and Inprnt

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[amnhnyc]

Have you ever seen the magnificent rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex)? This colorful dung beetle can be found in parts of the eastern and central United States. While most dung beetles are dull shades of brown or gray, this species is one of a handful adorned in striking iridescent colors. Males also sport large horns on their heads! Like other dung beetles, this insect rolls dung into balls to incubate its young. It also digs dung-filled tunnels nearby to ensure that the newborn beetles will have enough to eat. 

Photo: Thomas Shahan, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist

[herpsandbirds]

Do you do bugs? I’d like to put in a special request for insects with unique features especially beetles

When I think of specialized structures on beetles, I think of stag beetles, goliath, and hercules beetles. Here are some friends that i think you will like...

Giant Stag Beetle (Lucanus elaphus), male, family Lucanidae, Sand Springs, Oklahoma, USA

photograph by Sam Houston

European Stag Beetle or Greater Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), male, family Lucanidae, Vigo, Spain

Photograph by Jesus Taracido

Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), male, family Lucanidae, Swifts Creek, Victoria, Australia

photograph by fir0002

Asian Goliath Beetle aka Reindeer Beetle (Dicronocephalus wallichii), male, family Scarabaeidae, Chiang Mai, Thailand

photograph by Pip Masion

Giant Flower Beetles (Genus Mecynorhina), family Scarabaeidae, from various parts of tropical Africa

M. savegei

M. torquata

M. polyphemus

M. obertheri

photograph by Ennis Fei (@ennisanna_fei)

Rainbow Scarab (Phanaeus vindex), male, family Scarabaeidae, Pennsylvania, USA

a species of “true dung beetle”.

photograph by Michael Reed

[crevicedwelling]

a lucky five minutes of walking turned up four beautiful deceased insects!

these four are a two-spotted bumblebee (Bombus bimaculatus) queen (?), a reddish-brown stag beetle (Lucanus capreolus), a broad-necked root borer (Prionus laticollis) and a rainbow dung beetle (Phanaeus vindex), the first I’ve ever seen

the Prionus is missing several parts and the Phanaeus was stepped on, but the other two are pristine. I’ll try to clean up and pin all of them! much more so than killing and pinning live insects, I enjoy fixing up a dusty old dead bug found on the street or in a windowsill. it’s sort of like antique restoration…

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Rainbow Scarab (Phanaeus vindex)

Habitat & Distribution

Can occupy a range of habitats; most commonly found in pastures and grasslands

Found throughout the continental United States east of the Rocky Mountain Range, down to northern Mexico

Physical Description

Length: 11-22 millimeters (0.4-0.9 inches)

The body is round and stocky, and males have a large horn on their heads

Both males and females have iridescent, primarily green metallic shells, though the shells of females are more dull than males

Adults have wings that are hidden beneath the hard shell when not in use

Behaviour

Rainbow scarabs feed almost exclusively on dung, particularly that of large herbivorous mammals

Adults build extensive subterranean tunnels below food sources, and bury excrement for their larvae to feed on

Unlike other dung beetles, the rainbow scarab shapes faecal matter into pear-shaped balls

Rainbow scarabs are mostly solitary, and males will battle each other to defend their territories

Main predators are birds of prey, including the burrowing owl

Key Advantages

Though they mostly stay on the ground, rainbow scarabs are able to fly over short distances

The irridescent shell may confuse predators

Photo by Julianna Schroeder

[mirroreclipse]

[29, 30, 31] Happy Halloween!

Not a song, but just some dorks cosplaying. Harlen is Jujutsu Kaisen's Nanami Kento, Laertes/ Phanaeus is @phantomarine's Cheth.

That's all for this Drawtober!

[novaearts]

Since everyone liked the first round, more bug fables sketches! But this time with color, especially since I've never seen people acknowledge Kabbu is listed as a Phanaeus vindex in the wiki?? Which means he would be iridescent and extremely vibrant

[kibbits]

colorfull betles👁👁

Jewel Beetle (Cyphogastra javanica)

scarab beetle, i didnt found the species name

Cetoniinae-Cetonischema

Fiddler beetles (Eupoecila australasiae)

!!!!!! OH THEY'RE SO PRETTY THANK YOU!!!

The closest i could find for the unidentified scarab is the rainbow scarab (phanaeus vindex) female? (a dung beetle!) tho i dont think the mandible is as visible

AAA I love iridescent bugs and I love high contrast!! I think the Cetoniinae-Cetonischema and the green Fiddler Beetle are my favs in this batch but i love them all!!!

[wagahai-da]

🌻

There are so many beetles in the world and they're all so beautiful, especially the "plain" ones like the Tenebrionid beetles, so many of the desert beetles i know are tenebrionids and even though they're "plain black" they're all so cool and beautiful and they all have such fascinating desert adaptations, like certain species that have vestigial wings and fused elytra so that there are no soft parts for moisture to escape from. the ironclad beetles are also in this group and are said to have exoskeletons so tough that they can be rolled over by a car and not damaged (DO NOT TEST THIS). and a lot of them have predator deterrence is stink bombs they can shoot from their ass

one time i found a metallic emerald and ruby scarab beetle under cow poop in northern arizona (phanaeus species) and i've never forgotten it. it could have been worn as a jewel

[cordycepsbian]

phanaeus vindex

[proserpinaem]

Back on my hyperfixation shenanigans so I have not slept and here's a list of what I consider to be the prettiest beetles, butterflies and moths, damselflies, and grasshoppers and crickets that inhabit Colorado and Kentucky according to insectidentification.org :

COLORADO

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Fifteen-spotted lady beetle (Anatis labiculata)

Golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata)

Knapweed root weevil (Cyphocleonus achates)

Longhorn beetle (Semanotus amethystinus)

Dogbane Leaf Beetle (Chrysochus auratus)

European Ground Beetle (Carabus nemoralis)

Golden Net-wing Beetle (Dictyoptera aurora)?

Margined Blister Beetle (Epicauta funebris)

May Beetle - P. lanceolata (Phyllophaga lanceolata)

Mottled Tortoise Beetle (Deloyala guttata)

Pleasing Fungus Beetle (Gibbifer californicus)

Poplar Borer Beetle (Saperda calcarata)

Shining Leaf Chafer - Anomala spp. (Anomala spp.)

Signate Lady Beetle (Hyperaspis signata)

American Lappet Moth (Phyllodesma americana)

Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)

Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)

Glover's Silkmoth (Hyalophora columbia gloveri)

Great Ash Sphinx Moth (Sphinx chersis)

Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)

Black Saddlebags Skimmer (Tramea lacerata)

Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca spp.)

Obscure Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca obscura)

Sooty Longwing Katydid (Capnobotes fulginosus)

KENTUCKY

Andrew's Snail-eating Beetle (Scaphinotus andrewsii)

Black Firefly (Lucidota atra)

Calligrapha Beetle (Calligrapha spp)

Eastern Hercules Beetle (Dynastes tityus)

Emerald Euphoria Beetle (Euphoria fulgida)

Glowworm (Phengodes spp.)

Goldsmith Beetle (Cotalpa lanigera)

Metallic Wood-boring Beetle: Chalcophora (Chalcophora fortis)

Notched-mouth Ground Beetle (Dicaelus purpuratus)

One-spotted Tiger Beetle (Apterodela unipuncata)

Rainbow Darkling Beetle (Tarpela micans)

Rainbow Scarab Beetle (Phanaeus vindex)

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)

Southern Sculptured Pine Borer Beetle (Chalcophora georgiana)

Stag Beetle (Lucanus capreolus)

Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle (Chilocorus stigma)

Vietinghoff's Ground Beetle (Carabus vietinghoffii)

Abbott's Sphinx Moth (Sphecodina abbottii)

American Ermine Moth (Yponomeuta multipunctella)

Arched Hooktip (Drepana arcuata)

American Bird's-Wing Moth (Dypterygia rozmani)

Arcigera Flower Moth (Schinia arcigera)

Attentive Crocus Moth (Xanthotype attenuaria)

Basswood Leafroller (Pantographa limata)

Beautiful Wood-Nymph (Eudryas grata)

Black-waved Flannel Moth (Megalopyge crispata)

Blackberry Looper (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria

Blinded Sphinx Moth (Paonias excaecata)

Bluish Spring Moth (Lomographa semiclarata

Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia)

Carmine Snout Moth (Peoria approximella)

Carrot Seed Moth (Sitochroa palealis)

Cecropia Silk Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)

Changeable Grass-Veneer (Fissicrambus mutabilis)

Colorful Zale (Zale minerea)

Common Lytrosis Moth (Lytrosis unitaria)

Confused Eusarca (Eusarca confusaria)

Cross-lined Wave (Timandra amaturaria)

Curve-toothed Geometer (Eutrapela clemataria)

Dark-banded Geometer (Ecliptopera atricolorata)

Deep Yellow Euchlaena (Euchlaena amoenaria)

Diaphania costata (Diaphania costata

Dimorphic Macalla (Epipaschia superatalis)

Dot-lined White (Artace cribrarius)

Dotted Gray (Glena cribrataria)

Drab Prominent (Misogada unicolor)

Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Alypia octomaculata)

Elder Shoot Borer (Achatodes zeae)

Explicit Arches (Lacinipolia explicata)

Eyed Paectes Moth (Paectes oculatrix)

Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea) (female)

Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea)

False Crocus Geometer (Xanthotype urticaria

Fervid Plagodis (Plagodis fervidaria)

Fig Sphinx (Pachylia ficus)

Friendly Probole Moth (Probole amicaria)

Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)

Goldcap Moss-eater Moth (Epimartyria auricrinella)

Gray-edged Hypena (Hypena madefactalis)

Green Arches (Anaplectoides prasina)

Hag Moth (Phobetron pithecium

Hibiscus Leaf Caterpillar Moth (Rusicada privata)

Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis)

Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth (Speranza pustularia

Luna Moth (Actias luna)

Melissa Blue Butterfly (Plebejus melissa spp.)

Modest Sphinx Moth (Pachysphinx modesta)

Morbid Owlet Moth (Chytolita morbidalis)

Orange-patched Smoky Moth (Pyromorpha dimidiata)

Pale Beauty (Campaea perlata)

Pale Lichen Moth (Crambidia pallida)

Pale Metarranthis (Metarranthis indeclinata)

Pandorus Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus)

Parthenice Tiger Moth (Apantesis parthenice)

Pearly Wood-Nymph Moth (Eudryas unio)

Pero Moth (Pero spp.)

Pink-patched Looper (Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides)

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

Pistachio Emerald Moth (Hethemia pistasciaria)

Plebeian Sphinx Moth (Paratrea plebeja) (Caterpillar)

Primrose Moth (Schinia florida)

Promiscuous Angle Moth (Macaria promiscuata)

Raspberry Pyrausta (Pyrausta signatalis)

Rustic Sphinx Moth (Manduca rustica)

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth (Acharia stimulea)

Saddled Yellowhorn (Colocasia flavicornis)

Salt-and-pepper Looper Moth (Syngrapha rectangula)

Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis)

Scarlet-winged Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia miniata)

Schlaeger's Fruitworm Moth (Antaeotricha schlaegeri)

Showy Emerald Moth (Dichorda iridaria)

Small Bird Dropping Moth (Ponometia erastrioides)

Snowy Urola (Urola nivalis)

Sorghum Webworm Moth (Nola cereella)

Southern Flannel Moth (Megalopyge opercularis)

Southern Longhorn Moth (Adela caeruleella)

Southern Pine Sphinx (Lapara coniferarum)

Southern Tussock Moth (Dasychira meridionalis)

The Badwing (Dyspteris abortivaria)

Unspotted Looper Moth (Allagrapha aerea)

Venerable Dart Moth (Agrotis venerabilis

Vine Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha vitis)

Walnut Sphinx Moth (Amorpha juglandis)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerata)

Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth (Harrisina metallica)

White Flannel Moth (Norape ovina)

White Slant-line Moth (Tetracis cachexiata)

White-fringed Emerald Moth (Nemoria mimosaria)

Yucca Moth (Tegeticula, Greya, and Prodoxus spp.)

Carolina Locust (Dissosteira carolina)

Eastern Shieldback Katydid (Atlanticus spp.)

Slender Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus fasciatus)

True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia)

Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

Midland Clubtail (Gomphurus fraternus)

Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta)

Seepage Dancer (Argia bipunctulata)

[lfthcs-daily]

hey look! it's my blogsona design! i finally found some time to (sorta) finalize her design!

her name is viv but (full name is vivenne mono, but mostly just goes by viv.) she's a humanoid alien based on the phanaeus beetle (more specifically the rainbow scarab but takes inspo from many phanaeus beetles) (like the one on the album cover.) originally, viv was meant to land on earth in an attempt for her home planet to invade it, but after accidentally crash-landing into mary bell township, she quickly realized that she was stuck there. now, viv has put her quest for world domination on the back burner to learn more about the township and make new friends.

[herpsandbirds]

Rainbow Scarab Dung Beetle (Phanaeus igneus), family Scarabaeidae, Ocala National Forest, Florida, USA

photograph by Joey Mullica

[crevicedwelling]

the bugs I found a while ago and cleaned up to make pinned specimens have finished drying!

I think they all turned out quite nicely, even the Prionus with all her missing parts. Phanaeus still has to be rehydrated, so probably won’t start on that for a while, but I’ve got a few carpenter bees and others to work on with it eventually.

also, here’s Stella’s molt all pinned up! I stuffed the body with cotton and glued back her head plate, which often pops off completely with a molt. hope it turns out nicely, it’d be fun to have her pose next to her old suit of armor