Say hello to the rainbow scarab! This beetle was found in our very own town of Mansfield; if you keep your eyes peeled you may find one yourself! This colorful beetle is a great example of how a small insect can make a huge positive impact on its environment.

The rainbow scarab is a dung beetle that creates tunnels to bury animal dung which it feeds on and lays its eggs in. Animal dung is important in our ecosystems because it recycles nutrients back to the environment that plants need to grow. Having the dung buried under the ground is especially beneficial because it prevents harmful insects such as parasites from getting to it. If a large amount of dung piles up because there are a lot of animals on a farm, it leads to big problems like getting into the water supply. The tunnels that these beetles are creating also make it easier for water to get into the soil. Because these beetles are removing this problem and enhancing the soil while doing it, they are a farmer's best friend!