in zoology, a genus of insects belonging to the order of coleoptera. The feelers are clavated, pretty solid, and a little comprefied: There are five species, all of which are to be found on particular plants; and principally distinguished from one another by the colour and figure of the elytra, or crustaceous wing-cases.

The Byrrhus scrophulariae, which is very common upon flowers, it is very hard to describe properly. Its body is almost oval; the ground colour black; but the under part of the abdomen appears almost entirely white, owing to an infinite number of minute scales, of that colour with which it is covered. The head is small, and often drawn back under the thorax, which latter is broad, covered with white and reddish scales, through which the black ground in some places appears. The elytra are bent in, and even rather inclose the sides and under part of the body. They are black, with white and red scales, which form a kind of embroidered work. First, there is observable a white transversal stripe, somewhat broad on the top of the elytra; at the bottom of them, there are two white distinct spots near the future, one upon each elytron. The ruddy colour occupies chiefly the lower end of the future of the elytra, and the upper part of them, near their connection with the thorax. This species is common in gardens. If rubbed, the small coloured scale comes off, and the insect appears almost entirely black.

The Byrrhus verbasci is much smaller than the preceding species; its figure and form are however the same; only that the scales which cover the elytra are more numerous and closer set, so that the black colour, which constitutes the ground of the elytra, is nowhere to be seen. The scales form three stripes, white, transversal, and undulated, between which intervene stripes of a reddish brown shaped in the same manner. They are sometimes to be met with stripped of part of their scales, which renders them so different as not to be known for the same creatures. The larvae of this insect, as also those of the preceding species, are extremely voracious, and much resemble those of the dermelle. People who collect subjects of natural history, are greatly pleased, and but too well acquainted with them.