Skip to main content
Today is World Oceans Day!
Close

Rainbow Scarab stuck on barbwire

Photo by Tom15
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

27.617, -81.0831

Field Notes

Notes:

This looks like the work of a Loggerhead Shrike. Shrikes are also know as butcher birds because of their habit of impaling small prey on thorns or barbed wire.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
Tom15
Thanks lauren. That's the first time I found a Rainbow Scarab, too bad there wasn't a male with the big horn there too:-)
LaurenZarate
That is so beautiful Dan! A female Dung Beetle. That bird had good taste…. literally and figuratively!
Tom15
I just added a picture of the top side of the beetle that I pulled off the barb wire.
AshleyT
That's so cool! Out this way I know people who see hatchling horned lizards stuck to barbed wire. And I've seen photos of it too. Would much rather see an invertebrate, but as long as the bird comes back to eat it I can't complain too much about the lizards :)
Tom15
Lauren, once I get to the bug photos I took, I'll post a picture of this scarab.
Tom15
Thanks Ashley and kd. There were 3 beetles stuck on the barb wire in a 10 meter stretch. I collected 2 of them to photograph, and I was amazed at how precisely the shrike skewered the beetles. It took a little effort to get the beetles off the wire and the hole in the beetle was perfect.
LaurenZarate
Amazing! Such Dinosaurian behavior. What did the other side of the beetle look like?
kdpicturemaker
Great shot! I've seen Butcherbirds & other species in Australia stick their prey on barbed wire, sometimes to help tear it apart & other times to store it for later. Looks like the spider has helped itself to a meal as there's web around the beetle as well.
AshleyT
So cool, I always look for stuff like this when I'm in areas with shrikes but I haven't seen anything yet!
Photographed
PublishedApril 13, 2014

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies