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Photo#1533269
Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex? - Phanaeus vindex
Copyright © 2018 Marian Lyman Kirst

Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex? - Phanaeus vindex
Billings, MT, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
June 2, 2018
Finding live rainbow dung beetles in the wild in MT has been my "white whale" quest for some time. I knew they were here in MT but hadn't yet seen one in the wild. Unfortunately, this specimen, along with a couple of others, were dead, floating in a stock tank, when I found them. So the quest continues. I'm guessing Phanaeus vindex but would love confirmation as well as some help regarding sex. Is this beetle's horn considered "very short" as in females or just "short" as in minor males?

Images of this individual: tag all
Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex? - Phanaeus vindex Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex? - Phanaeus vindex Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex? - Phanaeus vindex Rainbow dung beetle, Phanaeus vindex? - Phanaeus vindex
Contributed by Marian Lyman Kirst on 8 June, 2018 - 5:05pm
Last updated 6 December, 2018 - 10:42am

Moved
Moved from Beetles.
… Curt Harden, 6 December, 2018 - 10:42am

Yes, and it is a female.
Yes, and it is a female.
… Junsuk Kim, 8 June, 2018 - 8:12pm

 
I just saw an updated images,
I just saw an updated images, and those extra three images belong to same specimen, they still are images of females. Take a look at images attached:
… Junsuk Kim, 10 June, 2018 - 9:16am

 
Thank you
Junsuk for your quick reply! I appreciate your help. Just out of curiosity, how big is the horn of a minor male? Is it similar to the female's or does it actually look more like the full-size male horn?
… Marian Lyman Kirst, 14 June, 2018 - 9:53am

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