THE DARKLING BEETLES. 1247 



*2302 (730! ). XYCTOBATES PKNNSYLVAMCA DeGeer. Mem., V, ITTn, r.i 1 . 



Elongate-oval, convex. Black, feebly shining. Montuin coarsely punc- 

 tate. Thorax subquadrate. slightly narrowed in front, hind angles rectangu- 

 lar; surface finely and sparsely punctate. Elytra faintly alutaceous, marked 

 with rows of fine punctures: intervals feebly convex, minutely and sparsely 

 pimetulate. Length 20-23 mm. 



Throughout the State; common in the southern counties, less so 

 northward. Gregarious in winter beneath bark and logs. February 

 14 December 11. 



2303 (7391a). XYCTOBATES BABBATA Kuoch, N. Beitrag., 1801. 16G. 



Resembles i><'>nix//1ntiiic(i but usually smaller and piceous rather than 

 black in hue. Thorax a little broader than long, less narrowed in front, 

 the sides more strongly rounded. Surface more distinctly alutaceous, the 

 punctures of both thorax and elytra coarser. Length 17-20 mm. 



Lawrence, Spencer and Posey counties; rare. April 15-July 27. 

 A southern form which probably occurs only in the southern third 

 of State. Listed as a variety of pennsylvanica but, in my opinion, 

 distinct. 



Iphthimus opacus Lee., black, opaque, head and thorax coarsely 

 and confluently punctured, elytra with deep, interrupted stria 1 , 

 length 15-20 mm., is known from Xew England and Canada and 

 may occur in northern Indiana. 



II. MERiNusLec. 1862. (Gr.. "thigh + curve.") 



Here belongs the largest member of the family found in the 

 State, an elongate black form having the epipleur.p extending be- 

 yond the last ventral suture, but not reaching the tips of elytra; 

 mentum with the middle lobe prominent along the middle, the side 

 lobes with acute front angles; hind cox:e rather widely separated, 

 the intercoxal process oval, rounded in front. 



2304 (7400). MERINUS L.EVIS Oliv., Ent., III. 1795. 10. 



Elongate-oval. Black, feebly shining. Thorax about as long as wide, 

 slightly narrowed in front, sides strongly curved, hind angles obtuse, sur- 

 face very finely and sparsely punctate. Elytra with rows of very minute 

 punctures; intervals faintly convex, smooth. Males with the hind tibia' 

 much curved and with an acute tooth near the tip. Length 1S-20 mm. 



Throughout the State; scarce. March 23-.Tuly 0. Occurs be- 

 neath bark. Very apt to lie confused with .V. pennsylvanica, but 

 readily distinguished by the club-shaped hind femora and the pe- 

 culiar hind tibia 1 of male. 

 17923402] 



