Lycoperdina Bovistae. (Puff-ball) Plate 355.

Lycoperdina Bovistae. (Puff-ball) Plate 355. From British Entomology; Being Illustrations and Descriptions of the Genera of Insects…, published in London between 1824 and 1840 by John Curtis. This finely hand-colored plate depicts Lycoperdina bovistae, a small beetle often found inhabiting puff-ball fungi. Curtis's accompanying text notes its association with decaying fruiting bodies, where it feeds and shelters, highlighting its specialized ecological niche. By pairing the insect with its fungal host, the plate illustrates the intricate connections between species, blending delicate artistry with precise scientific observation in one of the great works of early 19th-century natural history.