C 5i 3 

 PLATE XXill. 



SILPHA VESPILLO, 



CoLEOPTERA. 



GENERIC CHARACTER, 

 Antennae clavated, foliated. Head prominent. Thorax margined, 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Margin of the thorax broad. Shells abbreviated, black, with two 

 orange belts. Thigh of the hind legs large, with a fpine near their 

 origin i length one inch. 



This fpecies, like moft of the Coleopterous InfecSs, delights in filth 

 and putrefcence, and are rarely found except in the dung, or dead bodies 

 of larger animals, v>'hofe entrails they devour j they prey on the larvae 

 of fmaller infeds beneath the furface of the earth, or they will deftroy 

 each other. Their Grubs are fecreted in perforations made in the 

 earth by the fem.ale, and therein they change to their laft or perfeil 

 ftate in June or July : thofe Grubs are to be found by following the 

 track of a plough. 



They fly well with the tranfparent wings, which are concealed be- 

 neath the Elytra or upper Shells. The male is rather fmaller than the 

 female, and the orange belts are of a deeper hue : though both male 

 and female vary in the ftrength of colour when alive, and yet more 

 when preferved in cabinets, as they fometimes become almoft brown. 

 All infe£l:s are fubjeil to this change, whatever may be the care of the 

 coliedlor. 



I PLATE 



