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Photo#408840
Iridescent green/gold/bronze beetle - Phanaeus vindex

Iridescent green/gold/bronze beetle - Phanaeus vindex
Mercer, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA
June 10, 2010
I found this very attractive iridescent beetle at the 4H Fairgounds in Mercer, PA. In all my years of butterfly collecting and hiking, I have never seen anything like it. It can fly and makes a buzzing noise. Initally, by its color scheme, one thinks of a Japanese beetle, but this guy is entirely different. When scared or touched, it tucks its head down. It has very interesting antennae, almost club like, that are yellow in color. Its underside is just as colorful. On the upper thorax, there is a raised triangular wedge shape, metallic purple in color. I assume that this is one of the scarabs. Does anyone know specifically what I found? Sincerely, Paul

Moved
Moved from Rainbow Scarabs. Placed with vindex based on known ranges.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Wow! Thanks. That certainly
Wow! Thanks. That certainly looks like him. From the pics that you posted, I see the horn. I didn't even notice that on my guy. It's not as long as the one in the ID photos, but it is there.

it's a Dung Beetle, Subfamily Scarabaeinae
I think it might be in Genus Phanaeus - Rainbow Scarabs. It might be Phanaeus vindex

Might be
one of the Rainbow Scarabs--something like Phanaeus vindex:



One of the beetle experts will be able to say for sure.

Welcome to BugGuide!

 
It's difficult to tell on min
It's difficult to tell on minor males, especially from a photo, but it has to be either Phanaeus vindex or Phanaeus difformis - most likely P. vindex because of location.