St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-09-14
Grave-Digging Beetles.

One OF the wonderful provisions of ma
ture is the existence of certain beetles
with the function of digging graves for
dead rats, moles, birds, and other small
creatures left upon the surface of the
earth, and the ef1uvia from which mig 1T
be offensive and baneful. Beetles of this
kind are known as the Necrophorus
gern1onacus. About these remarkable
animal Mr.. Gleditch, an entomologist.
has given us several Interesting and
curious particulars. Being desirous to
test the strength of the grave-diggers, he
proviaed glass vessel half filled with
moist earth, into which he put four
beetles with a dead linnet. No alarm
was shown by the captives. Apparently
intent on the one sole object of their
existence, they began Immediately to in>
spect the bird, and then commenced the
digging of hollow underneath it, remov
ng the earth, and shoveling it away on
each side. This was accomplished by
leaning strongly upon their collars, bend
ing down their heads and working with
singleness of purpose. After laboring
for nearly two hours, one of the beetles
was driven away and notallowed to work
again. This, Mr.. Gleditch concluded,
was female. as it was smaller than the
others, which continued their labor, un~
til one by one they ceased, leaving only
one beetle at his work. Five hours more
hard work were given by the remaining
beetle, which at last sank exhausted on
the earth and rested from his task, and
finally, suddenly rousing himself, stiff.
ened his collar, and by an extraordinary
effort of strength lifted up the bird and
arranged it within the spacious grave,
In three days the grave was finished, and
the bird safely deposited within its mar
row limits.
During space of fifty days these busy
workers inferred the bodies of four frogs,
three small birds, two grasshoppers, and
one mole. This singular occupation,
which continues from the middle of
April until the end of October, proceeds
from an instructive desire for the pre-,
servation of their offspring. Eggs de.
posted by the parent in the substances
which they inter, when Matched, produce
larvae, which, feeding on the carrion !
which surrounds them, grow to an irch
in length. These in their turn change
into yellow chrysalids, and lastly into
beetles and the latter, when emerged
from the earth, begin to dig graves and
inter dead animals for the benefit of an
other generation.
In September, 1877, the writer had
Unexpectedly an opportunity of making
the acquaintance of these curious insects. |
Two of the grave~digging beetles made
their appearance in one of two under
ground kitchens, in the window of which |
stood very large pot filled with |
mould prepared for the reception of
plant cuttings. To this pot the insects
made their way, and at once began cast
ing up the earth. On being observed,
they we're provided with dead mouse,
and set to work exactly in the manner
described by Mr.. Gleditch; but as soon
as they became tired and rested
from their labor, they were carried
into the adjoining kitchen and placed
close to the fireplace. The follow
ing morning discovered them again
at work, having travelled to their former
quarters during the night; and again
they labored perseveringly till the body |
of the mouse gradually disappeared.
at the end of the second day, it was
neatly covered in, and the insects were
turned out of their home and again
placed in the back kitchen. Meanwhile
the body of the mouse was removed;
but on the following morning the beetles
had returned to their fower-pot, and
were again burrowing in search of the
dead mouse, throwing out nearly the
whole of the mould in their untiring
efforts. Finally, as a reward for their
industry and perseverance,, they were
transferred to the garden and placed
close to the dead mouse, which they at