There are other short-coat beetles which do not have these big, round bodies. They lay their eggs like other beetles, yet they live in ant-hills. Perhaps these beetles and their larvæ like to feed on the husks and rubbish they may find in the ant-hill. The ants do not drive them out.
The short-coat beetles are not the only ones that take lodgings. Perhaps you may hear your mother say that “the moths have got into her furs.” If she looks at the furs, she may find, not only moths, but small beetles. They are having a fine time eating up the fur!
Such beetles destroy furs, skins, skin rugs, and stuffed animals. Their greedy larvæ can make much havoc. These larvæ are like tiny black worms. They are fond of ham, bacon, and lard.
One very large short-coat beetle is called the “coach-horse.” The larva of this coach-horse beetle looks like the full-grown insect. It carries its tail aloft, in the same way. It can run fast, and seeks its food all day long.
These larvæ often hide under stones. In the winter they go deeper under ground. They are fierce, and they eat animal food.
The baby lives only about three weeks in the pupa-case. This case is of an odd shape, like a wedge, with a rounded top. It is of a shining gold color, and has a plume or crown of hairs in front.