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ENTOMOLOGY FOR MEDICAL OFFICERS 



need here be mentioned — large beetles, of which the well- 

 known sacred " scarab " of the ancient Egyptians is a good 

 illustration. The beetles of this family are numerous in 

 warm countries. They have the habit of rolling dung into 

 balls with their feet, and carrying off and burying the balls 



Fm. 99.- Scarab Beetle. 



for food ; at the breeding-season they roll larger balls for 

 the reception of the eggs and the nourishment of the issuing 

 larvse. In countries where roads are merely tracks suitable 

 for pack-animals, the scarabs do some service by clearing 

 the roads of droppings. 



Of the AdephaGA three families of useful predaceous 

 beetles must be noticed, namely : — (a) Cicindelida, or tiger- 

 beetles — long-legged, slender, graceful, active, and often 

 pretty -coloured beetles ; the inner lobe of the maxilla ends 



Fia. 100.— Aijaatio Larva otDytisms 



in an articulated hook ; the larvae are alert, and " lie doggo " 

 for their prey in burrows, (b) Carabidce, or ground-beetles — 

 much like the tiger-beetles, but of somewhat stouter build, 

 usually of a shiny black colour, and not having a hook to 

 the inner lobe of the maxilla; the larvse are active and 

 hunt their prey, like their voracious parents, (c) Dytiscidce — 



