146 COLBOPTEKA OR BEETLES. 



summer. The chafers hatch out some time before they come 

 above ground. Other allied injurious species are the Buckwheat 

 Beetle {PliyUopertlia horticola) and the smaU chafer {Ehizo- 

 frogus solstitialis). 



Prevention and Remedies. — These destructive beetles often 

 may be collected in great numbers by shaking them off the 

 trees over tarred cloths, and then burning them or giving them 

 to pigs, which greedily devour them. Where land is infested 

 with cockchafer grubs, there is no better plan of clearing them 

 out than turning piijs into the field when it is being ploughed : 

 these animals grub about for the wliite larvse, and devour them 

 wholesale. Heavy dressings of soot and the encouragement of 

 birds is all we can do besides in field cultivation. 



The Necrophaga (or Clavicornia) are mostly " scavengers," 

 feeding on decaying animal and vegetable refuse. One family, 

 the Dermestidce, are very destructive : they are small grey or 

 brown beetles, that do much damage to manufactured animal 

 matters in their larval condition. A small dark-brown beetle 

 with fawn-coloured bases to the elytra and tliree dark spots, 

 known as the Bacon Beetle {Dermestes lardarius), does much 

 mischief in its curious larval state. The larva is dark-brown, 

 and covered with tufts of hair, which are placed regularly on 

 the margins of each segment. They feed upon furs, hides, 

 hams, and bacon. 



The curious Sexton or Burying Beetles (Necrophorus) belong 

 to the family Silplddce, which also contains the injurious Beet 

 Carrion-beetle (Silpha ojJaca). Some of the commoner Necro- 

 phori may be found everywhere, pretty beetles with red and 

 black elytra. They bury any dead bird or small mammal they 

 find, as deep as they can in the soil, and there deposit their eggs. 

 The larvce feed off the decaying body, and thus rid the air of 

 impure gases. 



