Beetles. ^ 235 



traordinary size. They are thought to be chiefly 

 ornamental in order to attract the female. 



The larvae are found in rotten wood, under logs, 

 etc. The legs are shorter than those of the scarab 

 larvae. The genus Lamprima is the common metal- 

 lic green or greenish-blue stag beetle and is very 

 beautiful. 



Types of Scarabs. — To this family belongs the 

 sacred beetle of the Egyptians, Atcuchus sacer; also 

 the cockchafers, some of which are such pests in 

 Europe. Our commonest cockchafer is the genus 

 AnoplognathiiSy which includes the "king beetle," 

 the "queen beetle," and the "washerwoman" 

 of the children. These are all handsome 

 beetles. Anoplognathtis viridaeneiis, or king 

 beetle, is a large, beautiful metallic green 

 scarab. A. analis (Plate 28, Fig. 4) (named 

 analis from a tuft of hairs at the anal end of the 

 body), is the "queen" beetle, and this and A. por- 

 ostis (referring to the "pores" or punctures on the 

 elytra) are pests in some years on the leaves of 

 many eucalyptus. The "washerwoman" (A. 

 porosus) in spite of its name, has very beau- 

 tiful opalescent tints on its buff-coloured ely- 

 tra, and we have seen these on the grey leaves of a 

 eucalyptus and the colouring of the beetle blended 

 very well with the leaves. We have seen these 

 scarab beetles reduce the leaves of a young eucalyp- 

 tus sapling to mere threads where the main veins 

 were left bare. One tree overhangs the rock pools 

 on the edge of one of our harbour bays, and every 

 year dozens of queen beetles are drowned in the 



