Microplea Equiseti. (Cornfield Horsetail) Plate 318.

Microplea Equiseti. (Cornfield Horsetail) Plate 318. 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 Microplea equiseti, a minute beetle associated with wet ground and aquatic plants. Curtis illustrates it alongside the Cornfield Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), a hardy and ancient plant of damp meadows and field edges. In his text, he remarks on the beetle's small size, aquatic habits, and preference for horsetail stems, noting the resilience of the plant itself, which has survived since prehistoric times. As with many examples in the series, the image underscores the delicate interconnections between insect and plant, blending natural history detail with refined artistry.