r 



Scarabaeidae of Nebraska 71 



ern species are at hand from Nebraska, but it may occur in 

 the southeastern part of the state.] 



Phanaeus Mac Leay 



Eight or nine species of these remarkbale beetles are 

 known in the North American fauna, but only one has thus 

 far been taken in Nebraska. 



1819. Mac Leay: Horae Entomologicae, i, pt. i, 1. 124. 



1885. Blanchard: "On the Species of Canthon and Phanaeus of 



the United States, with Notes on other Genera," Trans. Amer. 



Ent. Soc, xii, pp. 163-172. (Revision and table for seven 



species.) 

 1910. Blatchley: Coleoptera of Indiana, p. 917. (Descriptive notes 



on two species.) 



Phanaeus carnifex LinnaeuS. 



1758. Scarabaeus carnifex Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. x, p. 

 346. 



Specimens examined : 5^,35, from Rulo, South Bend, 

 Dismal River, Beaver City and Haigler, collected from May to 

 August. 



Car7iifex occurs more commonly than one might suppose 

 from the meager collection of specimens at hand. During 

 June, 1917 the writer noted a considerable number of the 

 ''shells" of these beetles in the disgorged pellets of undigested 

 food examined at a flourishing colony of Burrowing Owls 

 located in a pasture about six miles east of Lincoln along the 

 Street Road. Evidently the owls at least, were able to find 

 carnifex in some numbers. 



This beetle is one of the most beautiful Scarabaeids occur- 

 ing in the state. When captured its relatively large size, ro- 

 bust form, brilliant metallic green and bronzed coloration, 

 and the remarkable horn on the head rarely fail to awaken 

 the interest and curiosity of the finder. The elaborate dress 

 seems strikingly out of harmony with the habit of burrowing 

 in fresh cow dung, and doubtless inspired the name "Phanaeus 

 carnifex", the ''dirty devil". 



177 



