Phaleria gayi is a psammophile, detrivore species of darkling beetles belonging to the family Tenebrionidae found on the Pacific coast of South America.

There also tends to be a darker, symmetrical fuscous marking on the elytra of the beetle, sometimes occupying a large percentage of the posterior half of the respective elytron.

On beaches, these beetles are commonly found burrowing underneath algae that have washed ashore.

This species has been reported to occupy the Pacific coast of South America, from Central Chile to Ecuador.

P. gayi is only found on beaches with ample access to algae, or other types of vegetative detritus like fruit, and beaches that allow for organisms of the species to burrow into the sand.