274 



Beetles 



in manure, rotten wood, and in the ground. The familiar white grub, larva 

 of the June-bug, is a typical example. 



Of the scavenger Scarabaeids the tumble-bugs are wide-spread and well 

 known. The species common in the East belong to three genera: Copris, 

 with middle and posterior tibiae dilated at the tip; Canthon, with these tiba? 

 slender or only slightly dilated ; and Phaneus, with the anterior tarsi wanting, 

 and the others without claws. The species of Canthon, male and female 

 working together, make balls of dung, which are rolled along for some dis- 

 tance and finally buried in the ground. The female lays an egg in the ball, 



FIG. 375. FIG. 376. FIG. 377. 



FIG. 375. Polyphylla crinita. (Natural size.) 



FIG. 376. Larva of a large Scarabeid beetle. (Natural size.) 



FiG. 377. Phaneus carnijex. (One and one-half times natural size.) 



and the fat white grub hatching from it feeds on the ball until ready to pupate. 

 The adult beetle issues in about two weeks from the time of laying the egg. 

 The common Copris Carolina does not make a ball, but digs holes close to 

 or under manure, and fills the holes with this substance, on which the larvae, 

 hatched from eggs placed one in each hole, feed. The species of Phaneus 

 (Fig. 377) are brilliantly colored with metallic green, rose, and bronze, and 

 bear curious projecting horns on the prothorax. The famous Sacred Scara- 

 beus of the Egyptians, Ateuchus sacer, was "held in high veneration by 

 this ancient people. It was placed by them in the tombs with their dead; 

 its picture was painted on their sarcophagi, and its image was carved in 

 stones and precious gems. These sculptured beetles can be found in almost 

 any collection of Egyptian antiquities." 



Common dung-beetles are the numerous species of Aphodius, to ^ 

 inch long, with oblong, convex, or cylindrical body, and with the front 

 of the head expanded shield-like over the mouth-parts. "These insects 

 are very abundant in pastures in the dung of horses and cattle, and immense 

 numbers of them are often seen flying through the air during warm autumn 

 afternoons." Common species are A. fimetarius, $ inch long, with red elytra; 



