TY - JOUR T1 - Iridescent dung beetles: A different angle JF - Florida Entomologist Y1 - 1997 A1 - Vulinec, Kevina SP - 132 EP - 141 KW - Animalia- KW - Animals- KW - Arthropoda- KW - Arthropods- KW - Behavior- KW - Coleoptera-: Insecta- KW - dung-beetle (Coleoptera-) KW - Ecology- (Environmental-Sciences) KW - Insects- KW - Integumentary-System (Chemical-Coordination-and-Homeostasis) KW - Invertebrata- KW - Invertebrate KW - morphology- AB - Iridescence, in both the visible and ultraviolet (UV) spectra, is produced by various means and may serve several functions in different animals. In insects, such colors are often considered as anti-predator adaptations, either crypsis or aposematism, or a means of thermoregulation. A less explored alternative is social signaling. Iridescent colors are particularly useful in this context because they are brightest from certain directions and body orientation could be employed to direct a visual signal to particular receivers. In phanaeine dung beetles the head and prothoracic shield reflect a visible-light and UV iridescence that is best seen from a position facing the insect. The less iridescent male horn is silhouetted against the prothoracic shield. Since, horn size is indicative of male size, such a display may be directed to sexual competitors in agonistic interactions. Broad and reflective prothoracic surfaces on males might also be preferred by females choosing a mate, who will cooperate in future brood care, since they would make infestations of kleptoparasitic flies more obvious. VL - 80 N1 - 1997Research ArticleEnglish ER -