278 



FAMILY VIII. — SILPHIDiE. 



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

 ably occnrs in Indiana. (Fig. 139, o.) Another, P. hamiltoni 

 Horn, occurs near Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. 



This tribe comprises insects of small size and usually ovate 

 form, having the front coxs cylindric-conic and contiguous, the 

 cavities closed behind; abdomen with six distinct segments, except 



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

 of same; c, Ptomophagus consobrinus Lee; (o) 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' ne.-;ts. Four of the eight genera 

 are represented in Indiana. 



IvEY TO INDIANA GENEKA OF CHOLEVINI. 



a. Abdomen with six segments ; hiud coxae contiguous ; bead suddenly nar- 

 rowed behind tiie eyes, forming a neelc, the occiput elevated in a 

 ridge. 

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

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

 tiguous, 

 c. Tibial spurs moderate in length, simple. IV. Cholev.v 



cc. Tibial spufs very long, bipectinate. (Fig. 139, d.) 



V. PkIONOCH/ETA. 



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

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

 rated ; antenme 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 ; hiud 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 elj^ra usually finely punctured. The 



