278 



FAMILY VIII. SILPHID.E. 



been taken in Alaska, and near Washington, D. C., so that it prob- 

 ably occurs in Indiana. (Fig. 139, a.} Another, P. hamiltoni 

 Horn, occurs near Allegheny City. Pennsylvania. 



This tribe comprises insects of small size and usually ovate 

 form, having the front coxne eylindric-conic and contiguous, the 

 cavities closed behind; abdomen with six distinct segments, except 



Fig. 139. a, Pinodytes cryptophagoides Mann.; (a) antenna of same; 6, Prionochata opaca Say; (a) tibial spur 

 of same; c, Ptornophagus consobrinus Lee.; (a) antenna of same. (After Horn.) 



Tribe III. CHOLEVINI. 



in Colon, and covered by the elytra. Some of the species live on 

 carrion or in fungi; others in ants' nests. Four of the eight genera 

 are represented in Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA GENERA OF CHOLEVINI. 



a. Abdomen with six segments; hind coxa? contiguous; bead suddenly nar- 

 rowed behind the eyes, forming a neck, the occiput elevated in n 

 ridge. 



b. Elytra punctate, not strigose; last joint of maxillary palpi as long as 

 the preceding ; mesosternum not carinate, the middle coxie con- 

 tiguous. 



c. Tibial spurs moderate in length, simple. IV. CHOLEVA. 



cc. Tibial spurs very long, bipectiuate. (Fig. 139, &.) 



V. PKIONOCH.ETA. 



til). Elytra finely and transversely strigose; last joint of maxillary palpi 

 short, awl-shaped ; mesosternum carinate, the middle coxae sepa- 

 rated ; antenna gradually clavate, not longer than head and thorax. 

 (Fig. 139, c.) VI. PTOMOPHAGUS. 



aa. Abdomen with five segments (often four in female) ; head oval, not nar- 

 rowed behind, occiput not elevated ; hind coxae contiguous. 



VII. COLON. 



IV. CHOLEVA Latr. 1796. (Gr., "to limp or halt.") 



Small, usually oval species, narrowed behind and having the sur- 

 face finely pubescent and the elytra usually finely punctured. The 



