The Cetonla-larva 



seen it straighten itself completely; the bulky 

 abdomen prevents it. When placed on a 

 surface of moist sand, the ventripotent crea- 

 ture is no better able to shift its position: 

 curved into a fish-hook, it lies on its side. 



To dig into the earth and bury itself, it 

 uses the fore-edge of its head, a sort of 

 weeding-hoe with the two mandibles for 

 points. The legs take part in this work, but 

 far less effectually. In this way it contrives 

 to dig itself a shallow pit. Then, bracing 

 itself against the wall of the pit, with the 

 aid of wriggling movements which are fa- 

 voured by the short, stiff hairs bristling all 

 over its body, the grub changes its position 

 and plunges into the sand, but still with dif- 

 ficulty. 



Apart from a few details, which are of no 

 importance here, we may repeat this sketch 

 of the Anoxia-grub and we shall have, if the 

 size be at least quadrupled, a picture of the 

 larva of Oryctes nasicornis, the monstrous 

 prey of the Garden Scolia. Its general ap- 

 pearance is the same: there is the same exag- 

 geration of the belly; the same hook-like 

 curve; the same incapacity for standing on 

 its legs. And as much may be said of the 

 larva of Scarabaus pentodon, a fellow- 

 boarder of the Oryctes and the Cetonia. 

 103 



