Phanaeus vindex
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Phanaeus vindex, also known as a rainbow scarab (like other members in its genus), 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 northern Mexico. It is the most widespread species of Phanaeus in the United States and it has a wide habitat tolerance. It may hybridize with the generally less common P. difformis.
P. vindex adults are hard-bodied beetles which range from approximately 11-22 millimeters (0.4-0.9 inches) in length. They are relatively bulky and oblong. These beetles are sexually dimorphic; the males can be identified by their iridescent elytra and a large horn on their heads while females have slightly less vibrant shells and lack horns. Females also have different numbers of segments on their abdomen than males. Additionally, the ends of male abdomens raise above the elytra, however, in females, they do not. On top of this, the abdomen is distinctly colored in both sexes. Like most Phanaeus species, male rainbow scarabs can be observed in either a major morph with large horns and bodies, or a minor morph, with significantly... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Dallas | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rainbow Scarab sighting in Miami on a given day, based on 152 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 83rd most-seen of the 826 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rainbow Scarab in Miami on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rainbow Scarab sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Rainbow Scarab sightings, Miami has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Orlando (United States, about 10%) and Dallas (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Scarabaeidae
The closest relatives of the Rainbow Scarab that you can see in Miami (family Scarabaeidae, Scarabs) are Dark Flower Scarab (about 10%), Margined Shining Leaf Chafer (about 10%) and Cuban May Beetle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rainbow Scarab is recorded against all the insects logged in Miami (152 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
