INSECTS COLEOPTERA DIAGRAM 6. 



115 



Necrophorus. 



or else a bird or a frog. They lay their eggs in it, and then 

 undertake the great work of burying the 

 carcass, at which several always assist ; for 

 this purpose, they burrow underneath it and 

 hollow out the earth, and throw it aside, so 

 that the body sinks little by little, and finally 

 lies in a hole large enough to contain it ; 

 then they cover it with the earth which they 

 had removed, and leave it. This work some- 

 times requires two days, although the beetles 

 who have undertaken it, prosecute it with 

 great ardour. The larvas are thus born in 

 the midst of their appropriate food. They are greyish white 

 worms. 



The Dermestes are small beetles about a quarter of an inch long, 

 generally they have black elytras with a white spot on each. The 

 larva is wholly covered with hairs ; it eats cheese, lard, furs, linen, 

 and feathers. It is extremely voracious, and will even attack old 

 bones. It is the greatest enemy of collectors of natural history, 

 because it eats stuffed skins. 



The Cockchafer is certainly one of the most destructive insects 

 known ; in the perfect state, it devours the forests ; and in the 

 larva state it eats the roots of the crops. The larvaa are called 

 white worms, and are hatched about six weeks after the eggs 



Cockchafer. Larva, or White Worm, 



have been laid by the cockchafers on the ground. 



They 



