Phanaeus vindex
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
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 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 121st most-seen of the 189 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June, September–October and December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rainbow Scarab in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on a given day, against under 5% in January–May, July–August and November, the lowest months.
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 3 parks where we can rate Rainbow Scarab sightings, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Everglades National Park (United States, under 5%) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rainbow Scarab is recorded against all the insects logged in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
