iHK DARKLIirg. ^^f 



Genus XXVr — 7'enebrio. The Darkling. 



1 HESE infects are commonly of a dark fombre colour ' 

 Some ha\ e wings under their elytra, while others are apte* 

 rous ; and from this circumllance, they have been divided by 

 naturalifts into two fedlions, containing together thirty- 

 thrte different fpecies. The larvse of fome fpecies relide 

 among rotten fticks, or rubblfti j thofe of others take up 

 their abode among flour, and different kinds of food. 

 After they have become perftd; infe£ls, they enter houfes 

 and devour cvtiy fort of proviiion. Their principal re- 

 fort is to damp cellars, where putrid air and darknefs at^ 

 traft them. It is from their precipitately avoiding light, 

 as well as their gloom}^ appearance, that they derive 

 their generic name. 



Tenebrio Mortifager *. This fable animal Is found 

 among rubbifh and dung in gardens j when it enters 

 houfes, as is frequently the cafe, the credulous believe 

 it the certain forerunner of death. It is entu-tly of a 

 deep black, without the leafl luftre : The antennre are 

 long ; the thorax margined j and the elytra wrinkled. 

 This, as well as fome other fpecies, is remarkable fsr 

 emitting a fetid ftnell f , 



f TcJiebfio primus Voyage d'AIande. | Cbarleton cxerclt, p, 48. 



