their size, and he concludes they are 3 years going through 

 their different metamorphoses ; they remain in the pupa state 

 14 days. The larva is depressed long and linear, of a pale 

 brownish ochre, the antennae are distinct, it has 6 pectoral 

 feet, and the apex is terminated by 2 recurved spines. The 

 pupa is similar in colour, but elongate- ovate, tapering towards 

 the tail. 



The affinities of these beautiful insects seem difficult to de- 

 termine. Latreille in his Genera Crustaceorum placed Py- 

 rochroa between Calopus and Ripiphorus ; in his Considera- 

 tions Generales its station is between Dendroides and Scraptia, 

 and in his two last works it connects the Lagridfe and Mor- 

 dellidae. Excepting the legs and ample elytra I can see little 

 affinity between Pyrochroa and Lagria, and the Mordellidae 

 form a very distinct family, distinguished by biarticulate labial 

 palpi and attenuated elytra. The trophi of Pyrochroa are 

 certainly most like those of Sitaris (pi. 340.), and it makes a 

 considerable approach to the Genus Pytho in habit. 



Two species of Pyrochroa are found in England. 



1. rubens Fab. Panz. 95. 5. — coccinea Don. 2. pi. 56. J". 1. 

 Shining black ; head, excepting the eyes, and thorax, ex- 

 cepting the breast, scarlet ; scutellura and elytra of the same 

 colour, the latter densely clothed with depressed pubescence. 

 Length 5 to 7 lines. 



This, which is the rarest species on the Continent, is com- 

 mon in most parts of England. It has been taken in May and 

 June from Cumberland to Dorsetshire in hedges of White 

 Thorn, the flowers of which it inhabits. I think I found the 

 larva under the bark of an Oak-tree at Rougham last May ; 

 it was of a piceous colour, and my friend Mr. Clark of Thet- 

 ford showed me some of the beetles that were taken out of a 

 block of wood. 



2. coccinea Linn. — Curt. B. E. pi. 590. ?. — rubra Don. 11. 



pi. 383. 



This species is at once distinguished by its bright scarlet 

 colour, black head and scutellum. Mr. Dale and I have found 

 it occasionally the end of May and beginning of June on stumps 

 of trees in the sunshine in the New Forest ; at Bexley, Birch, 

 and Darent Woods it has occurred as late as July I believe. 



The Plant is Thymus Calamintha (Common Calamint). 



