Beetles

1. Beetles Scarab By Alberto Najera

2. Information • The scarab beetles include the biggest insect in the world in sheer mass • The Egyptians saw the scarab as a symbol of resurrection • The family Scarabaeidae includes dung beetles, June beetles, rhinoceros beetles, chafers, and flower scarabs. • Some male scarabs, such as rhinoceros or Hercules beetles, bear "horns" on their heads, which they use to spar with other males over food or females • There are over 20,00 scarab beetles that inhabit the world. Over 1,500 inhabit in North America

3. Benefits • A large group of scarab beetles are scavengers, feeding on decaying vegetation. • Dung beetles, play an extremely important role in the rapid recycling of organic matter and the disposal of disease-breeding wastes. • Despite their ferocious appearance these beetles are harmless to people

4. How they harm others • The way that this insect is harmful is mainly in its larva stage. During this stage they feed off the root of plants. • Other species of scarab beetles feed on living plants.

5. There History with the Egyptians • In ancient Egypt the periodic appearance of this beetle in great numbers on the surface of the Nile mud led men to associate the sacred scarab with resurrection and immortality. • Finely carved scarabs were used as seals in ancient Egypt; inscribed scarabs were issued to commemorate important events or buried with mummies. • Other species of scarab beetles feed on living plants. • It was believed that the scarab-beetle god Khepera would push the sun like the beetles would pus the dung balls around. • scarab amulets were often placed over the heart of the mummified deceased

6. Sources • Debbie , H. (n.d.). insects.about.com. Retrieved from http://insects.about.com/od/beetles/p/scarab-beetles.htm • (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0843879.html • Egyptian myths. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.egyptianmyths.net/scarab.htm