The scarab is dangerous. Scarab beetle - sacred talisman

For the ancient Egyptians, sacred space was not limited only to the temple grounds and sacred groves. Every little thing is for him Everyday life, all surrounding nature could teach a lot of valuable lessons and appear in an aura of sacredness. Thanks to this worldview, a symbol appeared that, along with the pyramids and the ankh, we associate with Egypt - the scarab. Egyptian mysticism endowed him with divinity and holiness, and myths made him popular and recognizable.

Origins of scarab symbolism

To understand why the scarab is a sacred symbol, you first need to say a few words about its nature. So, the scarab is a metallic color that feeds on dung. But he does it so unusually that he is really able to make an impression. The fact is that the beetle first collects dung and rolls it into a geometrically ideal sphere. This ball rolls into the hole, where the scarab spends the next few days.

The photo just shows the process of transporting such a sphere. This ball often weighs more than the beetle itself. When the supply is eaten, the sacred scarab comes to the surface for a new portion of supplies. And that is not all. The same balls are used for reproduction: the sacred scarab beetle transforms a ball hidden in a hole into the likeness of a pear, in the narrow part of which it lays larvae. The latter, developing, feed internal part ball, but do not eat through its walls. When the time comes, and this happens in the spring, a new beetle emerges from the ball.

Plus, on top of everything else, the sacred scarab always rolls the sphere only from east to west and nothing else. And this insect always flies at the height of the day.

Scarab and its connection with the sun

Of course, the Egyptians, who paid so much attention to solar deities, could not help but see a certain similarity in all this. Just as the sun travels its daily path from east to west, and then disappears into darkness and reappears in the east, so the scarab rolls a sphere underground and then returns back for a new ball.

In addition, the sun, according to the Egyptians, is a sacred deity, bringing life to everything, and after death, resurrection. Likewise, the development cycle of a new insect inside the dung sphere and its birth were correlated with the death and resurrection of the sun.

This is where the connection between the scarab and one of the ancient deities of the Egyptian pantheon - Khepri - comes from. This god himself personifies the morning rising Sun. In theological understanding, he is one of three hypostases along with Ra, the god of the daylight, and Atum, who was in charge of solar affairs from sunset to dawn.

In hieroglyphic writing, Khepri was depicted as a man with the head of a scarab. His connection with this insect is deep and is even reflected in the name itself, which literally means “Emerging from Self.” This is a clear allusion to the scarab hatching from a dung sphere in the spring.

Solar Theology and the Scarab

Khepri in Egyptian mythology was assigned a certain role in the creation of the world. The myth said that the entire visible universe came into being when the ascendant Khepri uttered his name. God shares this role of the creator of the Universe with all the solar deities of the Egyptian pantheon.

Legends about Khepri often correlate him with Atum. It was believed that Atum, the god of the night sun, personifying secret divine knowledge, manifests his power through the morning rising sun - Khepri. Atum-Khepri is sometimes also identified with Amon - the hidden spirit of the sun, giving birth to Ra - visible sun and daylight.

The scarab took on all this mythological load and symbolism. Egypt and its mysteries endowed the latter with the properties of a deity associated with it. Thus, it was believed that Osiris was reborn in the form of a scarab and in this form came out of the nostrils of his own head, which was buried in Abydos.

There were also sacred poetic texts that called the scarab a god who dwells in the heart and guards the inner light. Hence, this symbol acted as a connecting link between the human individual soul and God, proclaiming their unity.

The role of the sacred scarab in the life of the ancient Egyptians

Holy Scarab, this important religious symbol, accompanied the Egyptians throughout their lives. They were buried with the same talisman. The Egyptian religion proclaimed the immortality of the soul, which after the death of the body passed into another world, where it continued its journey. During a person’s lifetime, an amulet in the form of a beetle was intended to bring good luck, prosperity, long life, protect the home, protect from troubles and demons, bring a rich harvest, and also help gain the favor of God and his protection.

Scarab and burial traditions

After death, the beetle figurine, as a symbol of resurrection in another world and the transformation of the soul, accompanied the soul and imparted to it a divine impulse to a new life. When an Egyptian of aristocratic origin died, whose body was supposed to be mummified, instead of a heart, an image of a scarab was placed in the mummy. The latter was called upon to resurrect the deceased beyond the threshold of death. The Egyptians believed that the center and focus of human consciousness, and therefore the habitat of the highest part of the soul, is located in the region of the heart. Therefore, the scarab located there represented the seed of new life, the germ of rebirth. This custom was not static and, as is typical for traditions, it changed in different eras. However, its semantic load did not change over time. For example, sometimes instead of the beetle figurine itself, a ceramic heart was made, and the scarab symbol with the names of the deities was depicted on its surface.

The role of the scarab in the afterlife of the soul

There is another role played by the scarab placed in the mummy’s heart. The photo above depicts the scene of the posthumous judgment of the human soul, as it was imagined. Their myths describe this process through the image of the heart of the deceased being weighed on scales. To inherit the best part in another world, the heart of the deceased should not be heavier than the feather of the goddess Maat - the goddess of wisdom and justice. Such a heart can only be possessed by a pure, immaculate person, whose conscience is not burdened by the atrocities and crimes of earthly life. Otherwise, the soul was sent to receive retribution. The scarab, thus, called on God as a witness of the soul and a fair judge of conscience and the human heart. It was probably also considered a symbol of hope in divine mercy and hope for mercy towards the deceased.

Scarab as a symbol of education

Among other things, the sacred scarab is also a symbol of learning and the student. The beetle, transforming a viscous mass of dung into a perfect ball, which subsequently gives life to both himself and his offspring, transforms the student, cultivating a good character and creating a perfect person, whose virtue, knowledge and wisdom will further arrange his life and ensure the life of his descendants .

Conclusion

The scarab was deeply rooted in the cultural space of Ancient Egypt and became an important and ubiquitous symbol. Images of scarabs are found throughout Egypt in a wide variety of designs. It was made from stones, clay, metal, ceramics, but products carved from solar stone - heliotrope - were especially valued. Special magical power and strength were attributed to such amulets.

The finished figures were covered with glaze and painted with paints. The scarab served as a cult object and a decorative element on utensils and jewelry. Hieroglyphs, names of gods and sacred symbols. Its significance was so great that to this day, thousands of years after the extinction of ancient Egyptian culture, the scarab remains a recognizable and popular symbol of Egypt.

The Egyptian scarab beetle is often found in feature films about the tombs of the pharaohs. As a rule, these insects do not evoke positive emotions, and sometimes even evoke fear, as in the film “The Mummy,” where beetles brought death to those who dared to disturb the peace of the tomb.

Can an amulet in the form of a sacred insect be useful and what meaning does the symbol of the scarab beetle carry since the times of Ancient Egypt? Let’s try to figure it out.

Ancient Egyptian mythology contains many interesting legends about the image of the scarab beetle, here are some of them:

The ancient Egyptians associated the image of the scarab beetle with the movement of the Sun across the sky. Most likely, this is due to his way of rolling a dung ball - in many images that have survived to this day, the sacred scarab similarly rolled the Sun across the sky. The people also believed that all animals originated from the sacred waters of the Nile River, while the scarab beetle came from the golden sandy deserts. Therefore, the insect was compared with the sunrise god Khepri. Since then, the first amulets began to appear depicting Khepri with the head of a scarab beetle. They were made from stones and then covered with green or gold paint.
The most common myth about Egyptian scarabs is that they are the guardians of souls after death until the dead are transported to the kingdom of the dead. Therefore, in ancient tombs there are a lot of figurines and images of scarabs - the Egyptians called on them to protect the dead.

The Egyptians inserted a scarab figurine into the body of the deceased. Even in those ancient times, people understood that a person’s life depends on the heart. Therefore, when preparing a body for burial, the heart was removed, and a figurine of the guardian of the soul was placed in its place - it was believed that without it a person would not be resurrected in the afterlife.

The people of Ancient Egypt sincerely believed–beyond death, life is no worse. Therefore, the beetle was a talisman for them, helping them move towards a new, better life.

Since the times of Ancient Egypt, many have been found various items, not entirely clear in meaning to modern science. One of the groups of these treasures are mysterious and talismans. Among them, in addition to the well-known and, quite often one comes across objects with the image of the soul guardian beetle:

pendants;
signets;
brooches;
pendants;
figurines;
statues;
drawings on frescoes and bladed weapons;
images of people with a scarab pattern on their skin.

The scarab beetle can often be found on ancient Egyptian frescoes.

In our century, you can find a variety of interior items with a sacred insect applied to them. Most often these are paintings, watches, small figurines, boxes and dishes. Scarab-shaped pendants and brooches are also common. Occasionally you can see a watch decorated with his image, or a keychain in the shape of the keeper of souls.

The meaning of the scarab beetle amulet

To this day, the scarab beetle is used as an amulet that protects the human soul from grief and problems, helping to overcome difficulties on the path to a life goal. Only those who know the true meaning of this can use the amulet. Egyptian symbol and believes in the power of solar energy.

As in ancient times, today the image of an insect is applied to jewelry and household items, and small figurines in the form of a beetle are made. As a rule, stones of various colors are inserted into jewelry. Since the beetle symbolizes the path from the past to a better future, it is recommended to purchase items with turquoise. This shade is considered the color of rebirth and transition from past life to a new one.

Luxor has a scarab beetle statue that is very popular among tourists.

Many psychics and magicians, believing in the power of the sacred Egyptian insect, put its image on their ritual objects. An amulet with a scarab beetle is often found today in the form of a pendant or ring.

People who understand the meaning of a scarab tattoo sometimes use its image, combining it with ancient hieroglyphs. By the way, for men, a tattoo in the form of an Egyptian beetle takes on the meaning of wisdom and the victory of light over darkness. For women, the sign helps preserve beauty, youth and women's health.

In what cases should you get a talisman?

The talisman, depending on its use, has different effects on its owner. Experts identify several areas of influence:

In the absence of family happiness, problems in communicating with children or with a loved one, you need to place an interior decor item in the form of an Egyptian beetle approximately in the center of your home - the amulet will reflect the evil energy of strangers and strengthen love feelings.
If there are problems at work (with colleagues or career development), a small figurine or wall decoration in the office will help reflect negative energy, bring good luck and give a sense of self-confidence.
The jewelry will only help its owner; the influence will not extend to his relatives. This version of the amulet is relevant in case of health problems or the presence of ill-wishers in the immediate environment. The symbol will attract solar energy to improve the health of its owner and protect against enemies.
It will also be useful for people in military, security and rescue professions to wear a beetle as a warrior’s amulet. The sacred insect will repel a threat to life and health.
For students, such a talisman will help attract good luck to their studies and strengthen the desire for knowledge.

The Scarab Beetle talisman has many meanings, and it can act in different ways.

After purchasing a personal talisman, it is recommended to use it so that strangers do not see the amulet - for example, hide the pendant behind the collar of your clothes. If you tell about its existence and show to strangers, magical power directed at the owner can change direction, and achieved result will be lost.

As soon as you have the amulet, activate it: press it to your chest with both hands and mentally ask the scarab beetle for help. The amulet, while providing strong protection, accumulates all the negativity that comes from the outside. Therefore, periodically, about once a week, it needs to be cleaned: hold it under running water for several minutes to get rid of negative energy, and then put it under bright Sun rays for several hours to accumulate positive power. It is advisable that no one is at home at the time of cleansing and recharging the amulet.

Which amulet to choose

Experts in mythology and esotericism say that no amulet can be purchased just like that. For the amulet to really work, it must be selected individually. To do this, they recommend relying on some rules:

The amulet protects the place in which it is constantly located. If jewelry is purchased, it will protect the person personally, his health and energy background. This can be a pendant, pendant or necklace. It should be hung closer to the heart. For men would be better suited ring with the image of a beetle.
Before purchasing, you need to decide which area of life most requires the help of a sacred insect.
When purchasing a talisman, initially think about the purpose of its acquisition. Thus, he will immediately begin to tune in to the necessary energy wave.
There should not be any inscriptions on the amulet - they make its power weaker. Moreover, sometimes the words are written in an unfamiliar language. Purchasing an amulet, for example, with the inscription “to attract money”, when in fact it is necessary “for health”, distorts its effect.

IN Orthodox Christianity There is a ban on wearing any talismans at the same time as an amulet or a cross. Therefore, believers in Christ are not recommended to turn to the symbols of another religion for help and protection.

Talisman as a gift

The sacred scarab is well suited as a gift to loved ones and relatives. Most often they choose figurines or paintings depicting a beetle. Female relatives can choose a piece of jewelry, and male relatives can choose a ring with a carved scarab. When choosing a gift, you need to be mentally inclined only to the good. When presenting a gift, you need to tell the new owner about the meaning of this sign and the rules for its use.

A talisman obtained in this way can serve no worse than one purchased independently. Of course, in this case, the donor must choose an amulet, knowing in advance who and for what it will be used.

You cannot accept a gift in the form of an Egyptian talisman from strangers or people you barely know - it is unknown with what thoughts the person is presenting it.

The African continent has a rich animal world, a special place in it is occupied by animals, which are still considered sacred. The scarab beetle is held in special esteem by the Egyptians and other African peoples; in some villages it is still worshiped, just as it was thousands of years ago.

Photo and description of the scarab beetle

It is difficult to find an adult who has not heard about scarabs; for most, they are associated with Egypt, the pyramids, and the pharaohs. But you can also find it on other continents of the globe. Once you know what a known insect looks like, it will be easier to identify it.

A photo of a scarab beetle will tell you a lot about the insect, characteristic features appearances are:

Black color throughout the body; adults have a shiny sheen. It is extremely rare to find a representative with a metallic gray color. The green scarab beetle is fictitious; this color is not typical for an insect.
The shape of the body is oval-elongated, with a durable chitinous coating.
The head is small relative to the body; it has a clypeus with teeth to facilitate food extraction.

On a note!
The distinctive features of the male and female are the red fringe on the hind pair of legs; nature has endowed this decoration with the stronger half. Unites this type insects have vegetation on their abdomen and legs. Long hairs are considered business card as are the four teeth on the front pair of legs, which are used for digging and forming food into balls for easier transport.

The sizes of individuals may vary. The beetle in Egypt reaches 41 mm in length. There are also smaller individuals - only 9.5 mm in more northern regions.

Where does it live?

Most of us are sure that the insect's habitat is quite limited. But this opinion is wrong; the dung-ball-rolling insect is found not only in Africa. The peddler beetle, or beetle, is common north of the Himalayas in Europe and Asia. In the Eastern Hemisphere, it failed to take root only in Australia. The Western Hemisphere did not become a home for him at all.

Due to the large accumulation of manure, insects are periodically imported to other continents; they cope with the problem, but they fail to take root either in Australia or on the American continent.

What does it eat?

The Egyptians believed that there were scarabs that eat people, they crawl under the skin through the ears, nose and eat a person from the inside.

Interesting!
Science has proven that the carnivorous species of beetles does not exist; the studied species are absolutely safe for people and animals.

Their diet consists of manure, which is what earned them universal love back in ancient times. capable of processing within a short time a large number of manure that remains when keeping domestic animals. Scarabs can also be considered orderlies in wildlife. It would take four thousand scarabs just an hour to clear an average pile of dung.

In the middle zone, beetles begin their active life as soon as the air warms up. They do cleansing only during the day until mid-summer, and then they switch to night look life. For normal existence for 10-14 days, the scarab needs one ball of dung, five times the size of the insect itself. The beetle rolls it into a pre-dug hole near its home and digs it in. This is how a young beetle acts, more mature age The male and female store larger amounts of manure for future use. It is with the help of waste of this type that procreation in these insects is possible.

In order to prepare food for itself, the scarab rolls a ball of dung, and it does it quite funny:

the basis is most often a small round piece of feces;
with the edge of its head, the insect seems to cut off small pieces of manure;
presses the torn piece into the ball with its front and hind paws;
the middle pair of paws holds the lump tightly, not letting go until the formation process is completed.

The beetle rolls the finished ball into a safe shelter in a shaded place. On the way, he is very careful, because smaller beetles in larger numbers can take away the prey without any problems. And relatives of the same build will not disdain ready-made food.

Interesting!
Manure not only helps scarabs live, the appearance of offspring also depends on it. The female and male stock up on a sufficient amount of manure, lay it out in their burrows, and then the female lays eggs in specially fashioned capsules. Until the pupal state, they feed on the dung that their parents stored for them.

Correct name

In Europe, the scarab beetle has many interpretations of the name; the dung beetle is called differently. The most common is the beetle, but this is an incorrect spelling. All explanatory dictionaries They say that it is correct to write and pronounce scarab.

Residents of the middle zone in tales call the insect a peddler, which is also incorrect.

Information about insects

The beetle became famous Egyptian pyramids, where a large number of his images were found in the form of drawings on walls and papyrus.

The ancient Egyptians revered the beetle as a god; it was often depicted with a human body and the head of an insect; there are images of the beetle on a circle. Because of the plate with teeth on its head, the scarab was considered a deity close to the sun; it was called Kheper.

Until a certain time, it was believed that insects were cannibals. It was with them that they frightened archaeologists and grave robbers, claiming that the Egyptian scarab beetle under the skin would quickly deal with a person if he ended up in the burial of the pharaoh or took some thing from the grave.

Interesting!
Scarabs were indeed found in the tombs of the pharaohs of Egypt; according to legend, they were placed in the grave to protect rulers in the other world from negativity.

Nowadays, faith in the magical power of the scarab has not disappeared; you can often find such an image as a talisman among many influential people. At one time it was fashionable and prestigious to wear a tie pin with a scarab, and the inlay was carried out precious stones Green colour. Accessories and Jewelry they also do it with such symbolism that it should bring health and longevity to the owner.

The scarab beetle is quite common around the globe. There is no need to be afraid of him, he is not at all dangerous to people, the ancient Egyptians came to this conclusion. It was not for nothing that he was revered as a deity, ranking him with the gods Ra, Osiris, Thoth and Horus. Rather, on the contrary, if this insect did not help in removing manure from forests and fields, then Earth I would have been stuck in this waste a long time ago.

The scarab beetle is an arthropod insect with hard wings and antennae resembling plates. A functional feature of the antennae is that they can open up like a fan. Refers to sandy soil orderlies.

Habitat

Prefers arid and hot areas with sandy soils. The scarab beetle lives in the desert, semi-desert, dry steppe, and savannah.

Habitat

The majority live in tropical Africa, in the territory Western Europe. They can also be found in Ukraine, in the regions of Crimea, Dagestan, Georgia, Spain, France, Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Arabia, and the lower Volga.

Appearance

There are about 100 varieties in total. Egyptian scarab beetles have a black carapace and range from 1 to 4 cm in length. The body has a wide and oval shape, covered with chitin (a durable covering). Young individuals have a matte color, old and worn ones have a shiny color.

The abdomen and legs are covered with dark brown hairs and fluff. Males are distinguished by a bright red fringe with a golden tint, located on the inside of the hind legs. On the head of the scarab beetle, a transverse shape is located with a clypeus with teeth. The front legs are also equipped with teeth.

Nutrition

The main diet is cattle excrement and. He loves horseback the most. He willingly rolls it into balls of different sizes, then buries it in the ground for later use as food.

The scarab beetle feeds on a dung ball until it completely eats it, all this time it lives in the place where it was buried. These balls are created only from fresh manure before it dries out. The beetle can also eat decomposed organic products. Rotten leaves, flowers and grass.

Reproduction

Before mating, a couple of the opposite sex begins to prepare food for future use, for the offspring. First, Egyptian scarab beetles dig deep holes (from 10 to 30 cm) with their paws. After digging, the male crawls away, but the female remains.

She sculpts oval shapes from the dung for each egg separately. Then she makes a hole in each dung ball and lays an egg there. After this, the entrance to the hole is covered.

The life cycle consists of 4 stages

Egg (from 5 to 12 days);
Larva (1 month);
Pupa (14 days);
Adult.

Lifespan

All stages take about 2 months. sacred beetle The scarab lives for about 3 months.

Enemies

Due to the fact that it is very noticeable and slow, it is an easy prey for birds and some mammals. It is hunted by crows and small ones (moles, hedgehogs and others). They are eaten in large numbers.

But there is a more dangerous enemy. This is a tick that is capable of breaking through the protective chitinous layer in order to drink all its blood. It often happens that one scarab beetle is attacked by several mites at once.

The beetle is the strongest and hardest working insect in the whole world.
Has great strength, and is capable of moving 90 times its own weight.
Can create a perfectly smooth geometric figure- a sphere that can essentially be called a unique natural skill.

Egyptian mythology, symbol, meaning

The scarab beetle is a symbol of Egypt. According to legend, it resembles the path of the Sun, and was born from the desert sands. In ancient times, the Egyptians associated it with the symbol of solar power, and with rebirth in the afterlife.

Even the mythological creator, the world and the man of God in ancient Egypt were depicted with the head of the Scarab Beetle. In Egypt, many sculptures, amulets and decorations in the form of a sacred beetle have been preserved. His images are found in tombs, sculptures and other historical structures.

Scarabs extract moisture from the fog. He stands against the wind and spreads his wings. After a certain time, the scarab beetle high areas moisture appears on the head and collects in a drop. Then this drop flows directly into his mouth. During flight, the wings do not fully open, which violates all the laws of aerodynamics. Makes a masterly flight that even a bird would envy.

The amulet of a scarab beetle with its image has the ability to protect the owner from evil forces, negative circumstances, create harmony in energy, and give self-confidence.

On the plains African continent, where many herbivores live, including many large mammals, there will always be food for beetles. The same elephant eats about two hundred and fifty kilograms of food a day, and after a while returns it back in the form of huge dung heaps. We can say that Africa (and other places on our planet) has not yet become bogged down in a huge layer of dung only thanks to the huge number of dung beetles, among which the sacred Egyptian scarab beetle occupies a special place.

The scarab beetle belongs to the class of insects, the order of Coleoptera of the lamellar family, one of the characteristics of which is special shape the structure of the antennae, which is characterized by a plate-shaped pin that can open in the form of a fan.

Currently, scientists have discovered more than a hundred representatives of this genus living in arid areas with sandy soils: deserts, semi-deserts, dry steppes, and savannas. Most are found only in tropical Africa: in the Palearctic (the region that covers Europe, Asia north of the Himalayas, and North Africa to the southern border of the Sahara) there are about twenty species, while in the Western Hemisphere and Australia they are completely absent.

Description

The length of scarab beetles ranges from 9.5 to 41 mm. Most of them are black; very rarely there is an insect with a silver-metallic tone. As the beetle matures, it acquires a shiny sheen. A male can be distinguished from a female thanks to his hind legs, with inside covered with reddish-golden fringe.

The body shape of scarabs is wide, oval, large, slightly convex, covered with an exoskeleton (a durable chitinous covering that acts as an external skeleton). The beetle's head is transverse in shape and has a clypeus with six teeth.

The insect's pronotum is simple, strongly transverse, granular in structure, finely serrated at the base and sides. Elytra with six grooves, twice as long as pronotum, base without border, characteristic granular structure. At the base, the posterior section of the abdomen has a border.

On the abdomen and legs (it has three pairs of legs in total) there are long dark hairs. The front legs are digging, have four external teeth, the part at the base on the outside is finely serrated. The middle and hind tibiae are thin, long, slightly curved, while the tarsi become denser closer to the body.

Way of life and nutrition

In mid-latitudes, the scarab beetle appears in mid-spring and is active during the day as long as it is cold at night. In the summer, when it is much warmer at night, it switches to a nocturnal lifestyle. The insect was nicknamed the sandy soil sanator (one might even say, a kind of waste disposal specialist) for good reason: almost its entire life is centered around the main source of food - manure.

About four thousand scarabs usually flock to one fresh, medium-sized pile of manure and in an hour they completely pull it away (if they hesitate, the manure will dry out and the ball will not form).

They do it quite in an interesting way: using the teeth on the head, and the front paws instead of a shovel and a chisel. Balls are made from dung, the size of which often exceeds the disposal beetle.

When forming a ball, they take a round piece of manure as a basis, after which, clasping it with their middle and hind legs, they do not release it until the end of the work. After this, having settled on top, the beetle begins to turn in different directions, separating with the edge of its head the particles of manure surrounding it, while its front paws pick them up, bring them to the ball and press it into it, now from below, now from above, now from the sides, until it reaches the required size.

An insect can roll a formed ball in search of a shaded corner of the earth for several tens of meters, and the further it moves away from the heap, the faster it rolls its prey. If the beetle is distracted for some reason, the ball it has made is quite capable of being taken away and appropriated by its relatives, so fierce battles often arise for the right to own the finished prey. During this time, smaller species of dung beetles can settle in the balls, and if there are too many of them there, the ball will be useless for the owner.

Having found a suitable place, the beetle, having made a hole, rolls it down, buries it, settles next to it, and until it eats it (usually it takes about two weeks), it does not leave the place, after which it again goes in search of new food.

Reproduction

While the insect is young, it makes a ball only for its food. But quite soon (they live about three months) a beetle of the opposite sex is connected to it, as a result of which a pair is formed: the insects begin to work together and prepare food not so much for themselves as for their offspring.

To do this, they dig holes, the depth of which ranges from 10 to 30 cm (they create as many nests as the female is going to lay eggs). Upon completion of the work, the male leaves the hole, and the female begins to sculpt oval-shaped dung figures (ovoids). In the narrower part, she makes a depression in which she places an oval-shaped egg (10 x 5 mm), after which the entrance to the hole is filled up.

The egg stage of a waste beetle lasts from 5 to 12 days, after which it turns into a larva, which constantly feeds on the food prepared by the parents, while it does not touch the walls of the ovoid.

After a month, the larva turns into a pupa, the stage of which lasts about two weeks. The young insects that emerge from the pupae do not leave their nests for some time, and if the species lives in temperate latitudes, they remain there until spring.

Relationships with people

How useful these insects are was realized back in Ancient Egypt, when they saw that black beetles destroy manure and rotten food, clearing the earth of decay products (an important job in a sultry, hot and dry climate).

Therefore, for more than one millennium, they revered and worshiped the golden scarab as an insect that belonged to the Sun God himself. It was a symbol of rebirth in the afterlife: for the inhabitants of ancient Egypt, rolling the ball symbolized the movement of the luminary across the sky, and the teeth located on the head reminded them of the sun's rays. It is not surprising that the golden scarab was often found in ancient Egyptian temples.

In addition to the fact that it was considered the animal of the main deity, there was also a cult of the scarab god Kheper, who was the god of health and longevity, in Ancient Egypt. Therefore, stone and metal figurines of Kheper were found in many tombs, as well as many medallions depicting a golden scarab.

These beetles are still used successfully today. So, some time ago after the insects of Australia and South America for some reason, they could no longer cope with the huge amount of manure produced by livestock, it was decided to use scarabs for this, as a result of which the beetles were brought to these continents. Despite the fact that the insects did not take root here, they completed their task.

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