The Phasmatodea are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick-bugs, walking sticks or bug sticks. They are generally referred to as phasmatodeans, phasmids, or ghost insects. Phasmids in the family Phylliidae are called leaf insects, leaf-bugs, walking leaves, or bug leaves. The group's name is derived from the Ancient Greek φάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, referring to their resemblance to vegetation while in fact being animals. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult for predators to detect; still, many species have one of several secondary line of defence in the form of startle displays, spines or toxic secretions. The genus Phobaeticus includes the world's longest insects.
Phanaeus vindex, the rainbow scarab or rainbow scarab beetle is a North American dung beetle, with a range from the eastern US to the Rocky Mountains. The head is a metallic yellow color, and males have a black horn which curves backward toward the thorax. Both sexes have yellow antennae which can retract into a ball on the underside of the head. The thorax is a shiny coppery color, with yellow or green on the sides. The abdomen is metallic green. The underbelly is black and green. Body length is about 2–3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) long.
The scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species collectively called true dung beetles. Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung. However, some may feed on decomposing matter including carrion, decaying fruits and fungi. Dung beetles can be placed into three structural guilds based on their method of dung processing namely rollers, dwellers and tunnelers Dung removal and burial by dung beetles result in ecological benefits such as soil aeration and fertilization; improved nutrient cycling and uptake by plants, increase in Pasture quality, biological control of pest flies and intestinal parasites and secondary seed dispersal. Well-known members include the genera Scarabaeus and Sisyphus, and Phanaeus vindex.
Phanaeus changdiazi is a species of beetle found in Panama and Costa Rica. It is named after Franklin Chang-Díaz, a Costa Rican-American physicist and former NASA astronaut.
Insects or Insecta are hexapod invertebrates and the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Definitions and circumscriptions vary; usually, insects comprise a class within the Arthropoda. As used here, the term Insecta is synonymous with Ectognatha. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body, three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and one pair of antennae. Insects are the most diverse group of animals; they include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The total number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million; potentially over 90% of the animal life forms on Earth are insects. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species reside in the oceans, which are dominated by another arthropod group, crustaceans.
Conus splendidulus, common name the clay cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Phanaeus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.
Phanaeus demon is a species of beetles belonging to the family Scarabaeidae. This species is often incorrectly named as "damon" in collections and in the literature.
Oxysternon is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. It can be distinguished from all other phanaeines and scarabaeine dung beetles by a long, spiniform extension of the anterior angle of the metasternum. Most taxa vary in color and color pattern, and are more commonly found in tones of green, often infused with yellow or coppery highlights. All species appear very smooth or glassy smooth to the unaided eye.
Phanaeus difformis is a species of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae.
Melanocanthon nigricornis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Melanocanthon is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 4 described species in Melanocanthon.
Melanocanthon bispinatus, the tumble bug, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Copris fricator is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Phanaeus amithaon is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Phanaeus adonis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Phanaeus igneus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Phanaeus quadridens is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Phanaeus triangularis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
The Cangahua Formation is a Late Pleistocene geologic formation of the Pichincha Province in north-central Ecuador.
