The Book of Beetles

Today's selection -- from The Book of Beetles, edited by Patrice Bouchard.

Beetles are one of the most prevalent creatures on Earth, with over 400,000 separate species, or one in five of the species on the planet. The name "beetle" comes from the Old English bitula, or "little biter." Many societies throughout history have held beetles in high regard.: "Beetles have long occupied prominent places in our mythologies and in arts and crafts. The Sacred Scarab (Scarabaeus sacer) is the best-known beetle of mythology. Images of scarabs commonly appeared in funerary art and hieroglyphs. Scarabs carved in stone bore religious inscriptions from the Book of the Dead and were placed in tombs to ensure the immortality of the soul./.../