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
Contributed by Paul Nowack on 10 June, 2010 - 7:39pm Last updated 25 November, 2015 - 10:31pm |