THE BEETLE. 



819 



it becomes a winged insect, capable of fly- 

 ing. 



Beside the difference which results from the 

 shape and colour of these animals, the size 

 also makes a considerable one ; some beetles 

 faring not larger than the head of a pin, while 

 others, such as the elephant-beetle, are as big 

 as one's fist. But the greatest difference 

 among them is, that some are produced in a 

 month, and in a single season go through all 

 th suges of their existence ; while others take 

 near four years to their production, and live 

 as winded insects a year more. To give the 

 history of all these animals, that are bred 

 pretty much in the same way, would be insipid 

 and endless ; it will suffice to select one or two 

 from the number, the origin of which may 

 serve as specimens of the rest. I will, there- 

 fore, offer the history of the May-bug to the 

 reader's attention ; premising that most other 

 beetles, though not so long-lived, are bred in 

 the same itianner. 



The May-bug, or dor-beetle, as some call 

 it, lias, like all the rest, a pair of cases to its 

 wings, which are of a reddish brown colour, 

 sprinkled with a whitish dust, which easily 

 co nes off. In some years their necks are 

 seen covered with a red plate, and in others 

 with a black ; these, however, are distinct 

 sorts, and their difference is by no means ac- 

 cidental. The fore-legs are very short, and 

 the better calculated for burrowing in the 

 ground, where this insect makes its retreat. 

 It is well known, for its evening buzz, to 

 children ; but still more formidably introduced 

 to the acquaintance of husbandmen and gar- 

 deners ; for, in some seasons, it has been found 

 to swarm in such numbers, as to eat up every 

 vegetable production. 



The two sexes in the May-bug are easily 

 distinguished from each other, by the superior 

 length -if the tufts, at the end of the horns, in 

 the male. Tiiev begin to copulate in summer; 

 and, at that season, they are seen joined toge- 

 ther a considerable time. The female being 

 impregnated, quickly falls to boring a hole 

 into the ground, where to deposite her bur- 

 den. This is generally about half a foot deep, 

 and in it sii places her eggs, which are of an 

 ob'onn shape, \>h great regularity, one by 

 the other. They are of a bright yellow 

 colour, and no w y wrapped up in a common 

 covering, as some have imagined. When the 

 wo. 60 & 70 



female is lightened of her burden, she again 

 ascends from her hole, to live as before, upon 

 leaves and vegetables, to buzz in the summer 

 evening, and to lie hid among the branches of 

 trees in the heat of the day. 



In about three months after these eggs have 

 been thus deposited in the earth, the contain- 

 ed insect begins to break its shell, and a small 

 grub or maggot crawls forth, and feeds upon 

 the roots of whatever vegetable it happens to 

 be nearest. 



All substances of this kind seem equally 

 grateful, yet it is probable the mother insect 

 has a choice among what kind of vegetables 

 she shall deposite her young. In this manner 

 these voracious creatures continue in the worm 

 state, for more than three years, devouring 

 the roots of every plant they approach, and 

 making their way under ground, in quest of 

 food, with great despatch and facility. At 

 length they grow to above the size of a wal- 

 nut, being a great thick white maggot with a 

 red head, which is seen most frequently in 

 new-turned earth, and which is so eagerly 

 sought after by birds of every species. When 

 largest, they are found an inch and a half 

 long, of a whitish yellow colour, with a body 

 consisting of twelve segments or joints, on 

 each side of which there are nine bieathing- 

 holes, and three red feet. The head is large 

 in proporton to the body, of a reddish colour, 

 with a pincer before, and a semi-circular lip, 

 with which it cuts the roots of plants, and 

 sucks out their moisture. As this insect lives 

 entirely under ground, it lias no occasion for 

 eyes, and accordingly it is found to have 

 none ; but is furnished with two feelers, 

 which, like the crutch of a blind man, serve to 

 direct its motion. Such is the form of this 

 animal, that lives for years in the worm state 

 under ground, still voracious, and every year 

 changing its skin. 



It is not till the end of the fourth year, that 

 this extraordinary insect prepares to emerge 

 from its subterraneous abode, and even this is 

 not effected, but by a tedious preparation. 

 About the l.uter end of autumn, t e grub he- 

 gins to perceive the approach of its transfor- 

 mation : it then buries itself deeper and deeper 

 in the earth, sometimes six feet beneath the 

 surface, and there forms itself a capacious 

 apartment, the walls of which it renders very 

 smooth and shining by the excretions of its 



5X 



