Pst .4 
PLATE AAT, 
SILPHA VESPILLO 
CoLEOPTERA, 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Antenne 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; length one inch. 
Se cemmmeemnineeenenn ia. canmacmemnteane cil 
This fpecies, like moft of the Coleopterous Infeéts, delights in filth 
and putrefcence, and are rarely found except in the dung, or dead bodies 
of larger animals, whofe entrails they devour; they prey on the larvae 
of fmaller infe@ts beneath the furface of the earth, or they will deftroy 
each other. Their Grubs are fecreted in perforations made in the 
earth by the female, and therein they change to their laft or perfect 
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 infects are fubje& to this change, whatever may be the care of the 
colleCtor. 
cz LATE 
