Results of an artificial feeding of eggs of Taenia saginata Goeze, 1782 to various beetle species.

We confirmed in experiments with four beetle species--Carabus granulatus L., Pterostichus vulgaris (L.), Aphodius fimetarius (L.) and A. luridus (L.)--that these can carry and disseminate eggs of Taenia saginata. The eggs pass the digestive tract of these beetle species. Difficulties in entering the digestive tube proper have been explained by the presence of filtrating and triturating organs in the mouth parts of the beetles.