The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-09-04
Graye.Digging Beetles.

One OF the wonderful PROVISIONS OF
nature is the existence Of certain beetles
with the function of digging graves fof
dead rats, moles, birds, and other small
creatures left upon the surface of the
earth, and the efluyia from which
might be offensive and baleful. Beetles
of this kind are known as the Necropho-
rus germanicus. About these remark
able animals, Mr.. Gleditch, an ento-
m~ologist, has given US several interesting
and curious particulars. Being DESTROYS
to test the strength of the grave-diggers,
he provided a 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 to inspect the
bird, and then commenced the digging
of o hollow underneath it, removing the
earth and %shovelling it away on each
side. This was accomplished by leaning
strongly upon their collars, bending
down their heads. and working with sim
gleness of purpose. After laboring for
nearly two hours, one of the beetles was
driven away and not allowed to work
again. This, Mr.. Gleditch concluded,
was a female: as it was smaller than the
others, which continued their labor,
until one by one they ceased, leaving
only one beetle at his work. Five hours
more hard work were given by the re-
naming beetle, which at last sank
exhausted on the earth and rested from
his task, and finally, suddenly rousing
himself, stiffened 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 deposit
ed within it's narrow limits.
During a 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 pres
ervation of their offspring. Eggs deposit
ed by the parent in the substances which
they inter, when Matched, produce Larvae,
which, feeding on the carrion which
surrounds them, grow to an inch 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 another
generation.
In September, 1877, the writer had
unexpectedly an opportunity OF making
the acquaintance of these curious in
scots. Two of the grave digging beetles
made their appearance in n of two I'm.
foreground kitchens, in the window OF
which stood a 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 were provided with q 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 70 the
fireplace. The following morning dis.
covered them again at work, having
travelled to their former quarters during
the night; and again they labored per-
severingly till the body OF the mouse
gradually disappeared. At the end OF
the second day it was neatly covered in,
and the insects were again turned out OF
their home and again placed in the back
kitchen. Meanwhile the body OF the
mouse was removed; but on the follow
ing morning the beetles had returned to
their fower-pot, and were again burrow-
ing in search of the dead mouse, throw
ing out nearly the whole OF the mould in
their untiring efforts. Finally, as a re-
ward for their industry and persever-
ance, they were transferred to the gar
den and placed close to the dead mouse,
which they at once began to bury afresh.