THE BEETLE 



69 



Fig. 72. — Copris, a tumble- 

 buji. Nat. size. Photo, by 

 W.H.C.P. 



the composition of the tip of the antennae out of a number of 

 thin plates or lamellae. The tumble-bugs or scavenger Lamelli- 

 corns (Scar"ab'icle£e^) are lovers of light and freedom (Fig. 72). 

 They form balls out of the dung of 

 various animals which they sometimes 

 roll long distances. The dung-rolling 

 habit has long excited interest ; in- 

 deed, among the Eg3'ptians it was an 

 object of superstition. So high was 

 the veneration of this people for this 

 their sacred beetle that they repro- 

 duced it in their paintings and sculp- 

 ture. The ball of dung is really 

 intended for the deposition of an egg, 

 and it is rolknl bj' both males and females to a hole in the 

 ground which has been dug in a safe place for its reception. 

 The group of leaf-eating lamellicorns is represented by the 

 June-bi]gs. The adults are attuneil to a very 

 low intensity of light, so that they stay in 

 hichng in the daytime, coming forth at 

 night to feed upon the foliage of trees and 

 shruljs. They are, however, attracted by 

 lamplight, and enter through the open win- 

 dow with a busy hmiiming sound, but soon 

 come in violent contact vnth the wall or a 

 piece of furniture, and fall heavily to the floor. 

 The larva of June-bugs are lovers of contact 

 and darkness. They pass the wnter in the 

 soil in burrows which they construct among 

 the roots of garden vegetables and other plants (Fig. 65 a) . The 



^Scarabetis, beetle. 



Fia. 7.3. — Macro- 

 da c t }■ 1 u s , the 

 rose-bu^. Nat. 

 size. Photo, hy 

 W. H. C. P. 



