Scarab By Alberto Najera Beetles Scarab By Alberto Najera

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

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

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.

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

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