
19 
Fig. k. The Burying Beetle (Necrophorus vespillo) 
is black with reddish- yellow transverse bands on the ely- 
tra, and red clubs to the antenne. The larve live on 
carrion, and several beetles will assemble to dig away the 
earth under a dead mole, mouse or | .- 
toad, till it sinks into the ground. ~~ 
They are often assisted in this work 
by beetles of the allied genus Sz/pha, 
which are shorter and “broader. Sy 
thoracica, here figured, has black 
elytra and a red thorax. 
Family VII. Histeride The body is broad 
and smooth, the head small, and partly overlapped 
by the thorax, and the antennz clavate. 
The beetles live on carrion, dung &c., ° 
and if alarmed, simulate death. Aster 
unicolor is black and shining, with six 
stria on the back of the elytra. 
Family IX. Nitidulide. In these also the an- 
tenne are clavate, and the legs short. The larve 


and perfect insects of many species are found in 
storehouses among rice, corn &c. Nitidula enea is 
oval, the up- 
per side me- 
tallic green 
or blue, and 
the — under- 
surfaceblack. 
The legs are 
blackish. 
This beetle 
is found in 
abundance 
onthe flowers 
of rape and 
turnip, and 
many other 
plants. After 
hibernating, 
they pair in 
May, and lay 
their eggs in 
the leaf-buds 


Family XII. Lucanida. (Stag-Beetles.) 
family includes large or moderate-sized beetles, the 
larve of which feed on rotten wood. The maxille 
of the male are often enormously developed. 
Fig. i. The Stag-beetle (Laucanus cervus) i 
dark brown and the mawille of the male are ae 
duced into long branching horns. The beetles are 
found in oak-woods in summer, and the larve feed 
on rotten oak. 
Family XII. Scarabeida. This large family 
which includes the Chafers &c., may be known 
by the fan-like structure of the club of the antenne. 
This 
Their bodies are generally of an oval shape, and 
they feed on leaves or dung. 
Fig. b. The Dung- 3eetle (Geotrupes  sterco- 
rarius) is blue-black , and hairy beneath. It feeds 
on horsedung, and flies wildly about in the evening. 
Fig. d. The Sacred Beetle of the Egyptians 
(Scarab@us sacer) is black, and the head is strongly 
dentated in front. It is found in Egypt and Southern 
Europe, where it makes a ball of dung in which it 
deposits its eggs, and which it afterwards buries. 
Fig. c. Copfris lunaris is shining black, 
striated elytra. The head is crescent- -shaped, and 
armed with an erect horn in the male. The thorax 
has two depressions, and a sharp projection. It 
prefers cowdung. 
Fig. e. There are many smaller dung-beetles, 
such as Aphodius fimetarius, which is black, with 
red striated elytra, and red sides to the thorax. It 
feeds oncow- 
dung. 
Bioanal) 
The Europe- 
an Rhinoce- 
ros) | Beetle 
(Oryctes na- 
S2Cornts) 
chestnut- 
brown, and 
the upper 
part of the 
head of the 
male is arm- 
ed with a 
long curved 
horn,and that 
of the female 
witha shorter 
spine. The 
larve live in 
with 
is 
of the rape. rotten wood, 
Family X. and especial- 
Dermestide. ; ly in tan, in 
‘These. are Hercules Beetle (Dynastes Hercules), many parts 
small and very destructive beetles, which are to be | of Europe, Britain excepted. 
met with wherever animal substances are to be found ; The Hercules Beetle (Dynastes Hercules) is one 
in houses, larders, dovecots, under carrion, among | of the largest of the South American beetles. The 
furs, and in museums. One of the male is armed with formidable weapons, and has 
best known is the Bacon Beetle, 
(Dermestes lardarius) in which the 2° 
front of the elytra is brown, and the 
hinder part black. When touched, 
it contracts its legs and antennz, and simulates death. 
Family XI. Byrrhide. (Pill-Beetles.) 
roundish beetles, found among mould 
and carrion. Ayrrhus pilula is clothed 
with brown pubescence on the upper 
sides) (and ‘the elytra: are © finely 
striped, and marked with dusky blotches. 
These are 


greenish-grey elytra, marked with black blotches. 
Fig. f. The Cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris) 
is black: with brown wings, a hairy thorax, and a 
pointed abdomen. The larva is exceedingly injurious, 
as it destroys the roots of grass, and the beetle 
feeds with equal voracity on the leaves of trees. 

Fig. g. Melolontha fullo is a larger species, 
common in many parts of the Continent, though 
not found in England. It is brown with white mark- 
‘ings, and the larvwe feed on leaves, especially those 
of the fir. 
O* 
