The Rainbow Dung Beetle

Short Synopsis:

Accustomed to camouflaging himself with mud to hide from predators, Desmond the dung beetle learns from his new neighbors that his true colors can be used to his advantage.

Long Synopsis:

In the garden of a quaint English cottage live two dung beetles, a young Desmond and his mother Marianne. Beneath their camouflage of mud, Marianne warns that their dazzling rainbow carapace would attract the attention of the deadly bird that lurks nearby. Despite their caution, disaster strikes, and Marianne’s dazzling carapace is revealed. The bird swoops in and takes her, leaving Desmond an orphan.

Years later, adult Desmond spends his days rolling his ball of dung, still camouflaged by mud and traumatized by the death of his mother. His routine is interrupted one day when a pair of butterflies, Harriet and Luna, move into the teapot next door. Wary of the colors that the butterflies unapologetically display, Desmond declines their invitation to a housewarming party that evening. As the butterflies turn to leave, their colors attract the attention of the bird. But before the bird can harm them, Harriet uses her wings to reflect the sunlight into the bird’s eyes and scare it off.

That night Desmond agonizes about whether to go to the party next door. He finally decides to go, but once outside his house, the bird spots his rainbow carapace through a crack in his muddy disguise. Desmond tries to reflect light off of his skin into the bird’s eyes, but to no effect. An idea dawns on him, and he jumps into a nearby puddle. The water washes away all of the mud, and when he emerges, his dazzling rainbow body blinds the bird and scares it off.

Desmond realizes that the butterflies had witnessed everything. He asks shyly if he can still join the party, and they welcome him warmly into the teapot to live their colorful, authentic lives.