274 



FAMTT;Y A'TTT. SILPHID^. 



black elytra, which are truncate at tip. and ornamented with con- 

 snienons reddisli-yellow spots. The head is 

 larp-e. suddenly narrowed in front of eyes and 

 ■?hr at a little distance behind them. The an- 

 tenna^ are spoken of as ten-jointed, but the 

 true second joint appears as a node at the base 

 of the one usually called the second. (Fig. 

 134.) They are frequently known as "sexton 

 Fig. 134. Necrophoni<;: 1, bcptles. " ou accouut of their habits of burying 



antennse; 2. tarsus; 3, head ^. . ' 



from beneath. Small mammals and snakes, bix species have 



(After Westwood.) ... 



been taken m Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF NECKOPHORUS. 



a. Hind, and usually the middle, tibiie curved or ai'cuate. 



b. Thorax orbicular, its sides and base with wide, flattened margins, 

 dislv finely and sparsely pulictulate. 

 c. Disk of thorax red : elytra without erect hairs. 



533. AMERICANUS. 



cc. Disk of thorax black ; elytra with erect hairs. 534. sayi. 



/;&. Thorax transversely cordate, its sides narrowly margined and sin- 

 uate at middle: disk smooth; first .ioint of antennal club red. 



535. MARGINATUS. 



au. Tibife straight, not arcuate. 



(1. Thorax orbicular as in amcricnnus and sayi. 536. orbicollis. 



(W. Thorax transversely oval, very little narrowed behind; sides and base 



broadly margined. 



e. Disk of thorax glabrous: antennal club orange, the first .loint pie- 



eous. 537. pustulatus. 



ee. Dislv of thorax densely pubescent; antennal club piceous. 



538. TOMENTOSUS. 



533 (1695). Necrophori's americanxus Oliv.. Ent.. II. 1790, 6. 

 Elongate, robust. Black, shining; vertex, disk of 



thorax, epipleural fold and two large irregular 

 transverse spots on each elytron, orange-red ; an- 

 tenniB black, the club orange-red. Thorax wider 

 than long, truncate in front ; disk with a few scat- 

 tered punctures along the margins. Length 27- 

 35 mm. (Fig. 135.) 



Marion. Vigo and Posey counties; fre- 

 (|uent. April 28- August 11. Probably occurs 

 throughout the State. Often attracted by 

 electric light. Our largest species, readily 

 knowm by its size and the color of head and 

 thorax. 



534 (1696). Necrophorus sayi Lap., Hist. Nat. 



II, 1839, 2. 

 Elongate, modei-ately robust. Resembles orUool- ^^'s- 1^^. x li (Origiiml.) 



