Scarab beetle
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| Scarab beetle |
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Introduction
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Anatomy
The general anatomy of all beetles in the scarab family starts with a body in the shape of an oval. All scarabs also have layered antennae used as sense organs. These unique antennae are often mistaken for "horns" growing out of the beetles head. Many of the male scarab beetles use these "horns" to fight each other with. For the dung beetle members of the scarab family, the tips of their heads are bordered with serrated rims to cut and shape balls of dung into balls. The insects forelegs are broad and flat to shape the dung balls, while the hind legs are long and thin for holding a ball in place as the beetle rolls the balls away with powerful forelegs. These beetles also come in a variety of brilliant colors.(http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=scarab%20beetle)
Reproduction
The scarab beetle usually creates it's nest alone, but when a female joins in, the two beetles create a nest together to mate. There is usually little to no courtship between the male and female scarab beetles. Both work together to build the many tunnels in the nest, although the female beetle does the most nesting. The male beetle's job is to excavate and get provisions. Once the female lays her eggs, which are at least one third of the scarab's body length, the larvae feed on the nutrients in the nest. There the pupae will grow until they are adults, and emerge from the nests to find homes for themselves.(http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Insecta/Coleoptera/Scarabaeidae/Scarabaeinae/)
Ecology
The scarab beetle lives in deserts, farmlands, forests, and grasslands. These beetles can be found pretty
much anywhere, except Antarctica.(http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/s/sc/scarab_beetle.html)
The predators of the scarab beetle include the blue jay, brown bat, American crow and toad, reptiles, and many other insect-eating creatures.(http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/dung_beetle.htm)
The scarab beetle has two primary food sources. The first group eat vegetation and the second group, which most people know as dung beetles, eat fresh animal feces. (http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/beetles/scarab/index.html)
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