Partly Cloudy, 75-80°F. 
We finally got some beneficial rain this week, and lots of plants and animals were very happy about it. I had a busy week and my only outdoor time was in the back yard.
I wish I could have gotten to this White Lined Sphinx moth earlier. Sadly, I only took one blurry photo of it rapidly pumping up it’s wings before it took off like a rocket.
The next moth I saw was barely moving, I’m not sure why. It didn’t seem hurt. So I got to take a good look at this little Tobacco Budworm Moth. He was fuzzy and seemed to have a mane of hairs.
He was sedate enough for me to get really close…
Kinda creepy this close. It has little spikes on its legs and a pretty bad haircut. I wonder if its eyes are supposed to be light-colored and dull or if it was old.
My next find was a complete accident. I was coming in the front door and almost stepped on this Rainbow Scarab Beetle, or dung beetle. They are beautiful and beneficial. From what I read, the rains might have forced this guy from his underground home.
Take a look at his powerful front digging claws. His orange segmented antennae have a poop smelling range of 10 miles. He can fly, but thankfully this one didn’t. Notice the horn on this male, the female has no horn. I keep wondering why this guy is so flashy when he lives in a tunnel under a pile of poop. Most other dung beetles I’ve read about are black or brown.
Impressive horn!
In this photo you can get a look at his middle leg and the segmented antennae.
The sun came out and his multi-colored metallic armour was super flashy.
He caught the smell of some fresh dog poop and took off towards it. When he reached it, he immediately started digging under it.
He dug a hole in a matter of seconds.
Then he was gone to create his tunnel where he and his mate will make dung balls to feed their young. This article is really interesting and describes the life cycle of this amazing beetle. Here is another article listing 10 Fascinating Facts about dung beetles. If you see a pile of dirt like this by some poop – now you’ll know what’s happening underground!
Here he is cleaning off his antennae, but I’d like to think he’s waving goodbye.
Cool post! Bugs weren’t creepy at all. I wish I had my phone with me to take a picture of the scariest bug I have ever seen, and in my own yard no less, earlier this week. It had a creamy orangey body with rust colored feelers (tentacles?). SCARY. If it was touched, it seized up and played dead.
Thanks Jinkies! Your bug sounds really interesting! I wonder what it was.
It is amazing all the little critters we share our day with and rarely see. I’m lucky these guys stayed still long enough for me to admire them and capture their physical details. So many things fly by that I’d love a closer look at.
I looked on a website to see if I could find it. I checked under both Ohio and Pennsylvania and it’s not there. I have no clue what it was!
Hey serious question……I work yards daily….on hot humid days I see dog poop actually moving slowly almost like it’s breathing…is this the work of one or more of these beetles ?
It very well could be. If there is a mound of loose dirt under it like the last photo above.
Those pictures are breathtaking…wish I was there to witness the scenery 🙂
i was on 183 n at the state line between oklahoma and kansas and found a beetle rolling dung. i have pictures and was wondering if you could help identify this beetle, maybe?
its so beautifull……….