812 FAMILY XL. LAMPYRID^. 



III. EROS Newm. 1838. (Gr., "the God of love.") 



The species of this genus are of medium size and have the last 

 joint of maxillary palpus longer than the preceding, and acute at 

 tip ; antenna? moderately compressed, with the second joint at least 

 half as long as third, which is not longer than fourth. Elytra 

 never widely dilated behind, the intervals usually with double rows 

 of small quadrate depressions. Ten species of Eros are listed from 

 the United States, six of which have been taken in Indiana, 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF EROS. 



</. Thorax with five well defined cells, the median one rhombic, not cari- 



uate. 



b. Upper surface black: humeral spot on elytra and sides of thorax 

 dull yellow. 1539. THORACICUS. 



bit. Upper surface scarlet. 



c. Under surface of body black. 1540. AURORA. 



cc. Under surface red. 1541. MUNDXJS. 



an. Thorax with six cells, sometimes ill defined; the middle one of front 



row more or less carinate. 



<1. Head strongly margined in front of antennae; front middle cell of 



thorax with sides distinct. 1542. SCULPTILIS. 



<1<1. Head not margined before the antenna?; front middle cell of thorax 



with sides indistinct or wanting. 



c. Base of elytra and each side of thorax yellowish; transverse 

 caring between the front and hind rows of cells strong, sinuate. 



1543. HUMERALIS. 



ee. Elytra wholly black or piceous; transverse carina? separating the 

 front and hind rows of cells indistinct at middle. 



1544. TRILINEATUS. 



1539 (4783). EROS THORACICUS Rand., Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., II, 1838, 34. 

 Elongate-oblong, depressed. Black; sides of thorax and humeral spot 



on elytra dull reddish-yellow. Antenna? with elongate slender joints, the 

 second and third together about equal to the fourth. Length 5-8 mm. 

 Vigo County; rare. May 31. Beaten from foliage of elm. 



1540 (4787). EROS AURORA Herbst, Nat. Insect., 1789. 



Elongate, depressed. Head, antenna? and under surface black or pic- 

 eous; thorax and elytra bright scarlet, the depressions of the former and 

 the scutellum dusky. Thorax with two elevated lines, distant in the mid- 

 dle and meeting on the front and hind edges, enclosing a rhoinboidal cell ; 

 also with two cells on each side. Length 7-11 mm. 



Vigo and Po&ey counties; scarce. September 22-November 4. 



Those taken in Vigo County were found in dry upland woods 

 beneath logs which had been partially burned, three beneath one 

 log, six beneath another, They feigned death when the logs were 

 overturned. 



