MEALWORM & CHURCHYARD BEETLES 



insect, bearing a small head, pointed at the back. It 

 has three pairs of short legs on the thorax, and there are 

 two small appendages on the last segment. Captive 

 birds are very fond of the larvae (called mealworms) of 

 this species, and any boy smitten with a desire to add 

 to his pocket money might do well to breed them, as 

 there is a good demand, and the supply seems to be 

 limited. I hand on the suggestion for what it may be 

 worth. 

 The Cellar Beetle (Blaps mucronata Fig. 22), belongs 



Cellar Deetl^j-. 



to the Blaptidce, and is so-called because of its fondness 

 for damp, underground haunts. It is dull dead-black 

 in colour, of sluggish habits, and gives off an unpleasant 

 odour. Its wings are not developed, and the elytra 

 are fastened together. A cousin of this species, known 

 as the Churchyard Beetle {Blaps nwrtisaga) is not so 

 common as the first-mentioned, and is less familiar in 

 the Southern Counties. 



59 



