COLEOPTERA 



i5S 



dead; its picture was painted on sarcophagi, and its image was carved 

 in stone and precious gems. These sculptured beetles can be found in 

 almost any collection of Egyptian antiquities. 



From the habits and structure of this scarabseid the Egyptians 

 evolved a remarkable symbolism. The ball, which the beetles were sup- 

 posed to roll from sunrise to sunset, represented the earth; 

 the beetle itself personified the sun, because of the sharp pro- 

 jections on its head, which extend out like rays of light; 

 while the thirty segments of its six tarsi represented the 

 days of the month. All individuals of this species were 

 thought to be males, and a race of males symbolized a 

 race of warriors. This latter superstition was carried over 

 to Rome and the Roman soldiers wore images of the sacred t ^^^ 6s '~ Cm ' 

 beetle set in rings. 



Our common tumble-bugs are distributed among three genera: 

 Cdnthon (Fig. 265), Copris, and Phanceus. 



Fig. 266. 



THE LAMELLICORN LEAF-CHAFERS 



The leaf-chafers are herbivorous insects which in the adult state 

 usually feed upon the leaves of trees, but many of the species devour the 



pollen and petals of flowers. In the larval 

 state some of these insects are found in rot- 

 ten wood; others live in the ground, where 

 they feed upon the roots of grass and other 

 plants. These larvse are thick, fleshy grubs, 

 with well-developed legs (Fig. 266). The 

 caudal segments of the abdomen are very 

 large, and appear black on account of the 

 large amount of dirt in the intestine. The 

 body is strongly' curved, so that the larvae 

 can crawl only with great difficulty; when 

 in the ground they usually lie on their backs. 

 The following groups include the more 

 important representatives of this division. 



I. The May-beetles or June-bugs. — During the warm evenings of 

 May and June we throw open our windows so that we may feel the 

 refreshing coolness of the night air and the inspiration of the new sum- 

 mer. _ Suddenly, as we sit working or reading, our peace is disturbed by a 

 buzzing object which whirls above us. Then comes a sharp thud and 

 silence. A little later the scratching of six pairs of tiny claws tells us the 

 whereabouts of the intruder. But so familiar are we with his kind that 

 we need_ not look to know how he appears, the mahogany-brown blun- 

 derer, with yellowish wings sticking out untidily from under his polished 

 wing-covers. 



Although these insects are beetles, and attract our attention each 

 year m May, they have received the infelicitous title of June-bugs. They 

 are more properly termed May-beetles. 



The May-beetles belong to the genus Phyllophaga, of which we have 

 nearly one hundred species. The adults frequently do much injury by 

 eating the foliage of trees. In the case of large trees this injury usually 

 passes unnoticed; but small trees are often completely defoliated by 



