4 8 



THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S 



Dermestes Lardarius, the curious hairy larvce of which will soon 

 hollow out a ham, leaving nothing but the skin. The beetle is 



Dermestes Lardarins (Larva). (Mag.) 



Bacon Beetle 



{Dermestes Lardarhts). 



(Mag.) Dermestes Lardartus. (Pupa.) (Mag.) 



black, with a broad brownish-grey band on the elytra, marked 

 with three black spots on each side. 



We have now arrived at the family Lamellicornia^ which 

 includes many of our largest and most conspicuous beetles. 

 They derive their name from their antennae terminating in a 

 series of flat layers, which open or close at pleasure. 



The largest of our British beetles is the Stag Beetle (Lucamts 

 Cerwis), (vide frontispiece), not an uncommon insect in the south 

 of England, where it may be found in woods, resting on or near 

 the roots of trees. The larva feeds on wood, and the perfect 

 insect feeds on the sap of trees, etc. ; it is said to saw off the 

 ends of twigs with its jaws, by whirling itself round on the 

 wing. The beetles, especially the males, differ considerably 

 in size and in the development of the jaws ; and the female is 

 able to give a sharper nip with her jaws than the male, although 

 they are very small in comparison. 



The Sacred Beetle of the Egyptians belongs to the family 

 ScarabcRida. We have no species in England which has the 

 peculiar ray-like teeth round the head; but our nearest 

 approach to it is Copris Lnnaris, a black round beetle with 

 a broad head, and a long horn in the middle iu the 

 male, 



