18 INTRODUCTION. 



with a smooth, yellowish and rather leathery exterior. In 

 Melolonthin^ and Dynastin.e they have been observed to 

 increase considerably in size before hatching. They are sometimes 

 coated with a glutinous matter so that they gather earthy particles 

 apparently serving for concealment. The larvse generally Uve 

 underground, in rotten tree-trunks or heaps of debris, some doing 

 considerable injury by destroying the roots of grass or cultivated 

 crops, while certain kinds greatly offend in the perfect state by their 

 devastations among flowers or foliage. These agricultural pests 

 belong for the most part to the MELOLONTniN.E, some destruc- 

 tive genera of which, e. g. Laclmosterna, Serica and Ajior/onia, are 

 found in great numbers throughout the East. Orifctes rhinoceros 

 does great damage to Cocoauut palms by tunnelling through the 

 growing top, but is also found in very great numbers in tan-yards, 

 manure-heaps, etc. The majority of species of the great groups 

 CoPRiN^ and APHODiiN.i:, many of which are very familiar, feed 

 upon the excrement of vertebrate animals, but a few are carrion- 

 feeders. Various species of Onthophagus devote themselves to 

 removing tlie remains of other insects, etc. Mr. H. M. Lefroy 

 records tliat 0. gravis speedily discovers and removes the dead 

 locusts which at certain times cumber the ground in great numbers 

 in the Plains. As all these transport the food-material below 

 ground for the benefit of their progeny, they must be regarded as 

 beneficial from the human standpoint. 



Although frequently found in very large numbers Laraellicorn 

 beetles are by no means prolific, many species laying only half a 

 dozen ^gg^^, or even less. Two or three years may be passed in 

 development, and the life of the adult may extend to more than 

 one season, so that the duration of life is comparatively long. 



The female beetle generally tunnels below the surface of tho 

 ground to deposit her eggs, and elaborate provision is sometimes 

 made for the offspring. Both parents may share in these labours 

 and even in tending the young. Probably monogamy is very 

 exceptional amongst insects, but in widely separated groups of 

 Lamellicorns we hnd the male and female associated for a con- 

 siderable time and accomplishing, by a regular division of labour, 

 tasks of surprising magnitude and complexity. Most of our know- 

 ledge on this very interesting subject is due to M. Fabre, who 

 has published (Souvenirs Entomologiques) a remarkable series 

 of observations upon the habits of insects inhabiting the South of 

 France, where are found representatives of many of the genera 

 of the Indian fauna. 



From exceedingly early times the peculiar ball-rolling habits of 

 the Sacred Scaralnvus and its allies in Southern Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa have attracted attention. It has been supposed that the 

 ball of dung contained at its centre the eggs of the beetle and 

 that the rolling ])rocess in some way conduced to the well-being 

 of the progeny ; but M. Fabre has shown that the real object is 

 the transporting to a suitable retreat of the food of the beetle 

 itself, and that the ball which actually contains the egg is con- 

 structed underjrrouud in a burrow to which the materials have 



