A purebred “red” mutant line of Canthon cyanellus cyanellus LeConte, a carrion ball-roller beetle normally green in color, was produced by inbreeding under laboratory conditions. Segregation of cuticular color fit a 3:1 normal/mutant ratio in F₂ progeny, and 1:1 normal/mutant ratio in test cross progeny. The mutant phenotype was controlled by an autosomal recessive allele. The putative genotypes are green (G/-) and red (g/g). In the laboratory, individuals possessing the red trait were as reproductively successful as wild-type green beetles. The red stock can be used as a visible genetic marker to investigate paternity in this subsocial species.

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