Scarabaeus sacer

Sacred scarab ( Scarabaeus sacer )

The Holy scarab ( Scarabaeus sacer ) is a beetle of the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae ).

Features

Holy Pillendreher be about three inches long. The chitin armor has a black base color, which often has a greenish hue. The body is constructed overall oval, rather than penetrated stretched, the thorax is larger than the abdomen. The head is broadened by appendages on the sides and very flat. The front of the head is strongly serrated. Overall, its shape is very reminiscent of a shovel. The antennae are very short and thicken at the end for a mace. The front legs are similar to the head, flat and serrated, so that they can be used very well as a blade.

Dissemination

The beetles are native to the Mediterranean region, almost throughout Africa, Asia Minor and parts of South America where they inhabit different steppe areas such as savannas and semi-deserts.

Biology

They feed on the feces of herbivorous mammals and therefore are also called Koprophagen ( Kotfresser ). After mating, the beetle forms a ball of dung, which often exceeds its body mass many times. This ball he caught then between his hind legs and rolls them running backwards in front of him until he finds a suitable place and the ball with the help of the head and front legs buries in the ground. The female then lays the eggs in the buried Kotkugel, from the feed the larvae later.

History

The scarab was in ancient Egypt as a symbol of the resurrection and the cycle of the sun. The dead were given scarabs, small beetle amulets, as grave goods for protection in the afterlife with, but also survivors wore scarab as jewelry.

Dung beetle with ball

Transport