78 LAMELLICORN'-BEETLES. 



It has, however, been stated upon very good authority that the 

 common black Aphodins (A. granarius Linn.), illustrated in Fig-. 

 85, has the bad habit of eating into sprouting seeds of corn. At 

 all events some species of this genus very often attract the atten- 

 tion of farmers, as immense numbers of them swarm early in 

 spring, and again late in autumn, over country roads, and especial- 

 ly over such roads that have been frequented by horses and cows. 

 Here the beetles enjoy their last meals before entering the ground 

 to pass the winter. The illustration (Fig. 86) shows an adult 

 beetle and its larva. 



Fig. 85. — Aphodius granarius, Linn. 

 G-eatly enlarged. After Foibes. 



Fig. S6. — Aphodius fossor, Linn., and 

 larva. After Brehm. 



The Leaf-chafers, or Herbivorous LameUicorns, feed upon 

 leaves of trees in their adult state, or they devour the pollen and 

 petals of flowers. They are distinguished from the majority of 

 scavengers by having more slender legs, with long claws which 

 enable them to grasp their food firmly, but do not enable them to 

 dig into the ground. Some of them can, however, do so, but not 

 so easily as their relatives with filthier habits. As a general rule 

 the tip of their abdomen projects beyond the wing-covers, and is 

 not shortened or cut off squarely. Since the adults also feed upon 

 vegetable matter they are in some cases as destructive as their 

 larvae, only, however, for a much sborter period. The larvae feed 

 either in rotton wood, when they are barmless, or they eat the 

 roots of grasses and other plants. Such larva?, well known as 

 "white grubs," arc thick, fleshy beings, much wrinkled, with a 



