Till': MKTArji.FC wo(Mi-K<)i;i\(; ijkktles. 807 



Starke, Pulaski and Marsliall comilics; rare. .Iiuit' ll-.)nnc lU. 

 Beaten from foliage of oak. 



XVI. PAcnvycKiJs S:;l. 183:?. (Or., 'Mhiek + leg.") 



This gemis is disl iiigiiished from Uracil i/s by the eharaeters given 

 ill generic ke>-. (^1" the four spe(M(>s known IVom the United States, 

 two have been taken in Indiana. 



1534 (4764). Pachyscells pukpurkis Say. Trans. Amor. Phil. Sor., VI. 



1S3C, 304; ibid. II, 599. 

 Ovate or triangular, subconvex. Head and thorax black, shining; ely- 

 tra purple. Thorax more than twice as wide as long, sides broadly curved, 

 disk without depi'essions ; surface with a number of large shallow dis- 

 coidal punctures, more numerous near hind angles. Elytra each indented 

 at middle of base and behind the humerus ; surface with rows of lai'ge. 

 feebly impressed punctures, which become obsolete towards the tips. Ab- 

 domen with a deep marginal groove; last segment rounded, not serrate on 

 edge. Length 3.5 mm. 



Lake, jMarshall and Starke counties ; rai-e. June ll-July 4. De- 

 .scribed from Posey County. Beaten from vegetation in marshy 

 places. The larvae live in the leaves of the bush c loser (Lrspedeza) . 



1535 (4766). Pachyscelus l.evigatus Say, Ann. Lye. Xat. Hist.. I. 1825. 



252 ; ibid. I, 38S ; II, 598. 

 Broadly ovate. Black, shining. Thorax twice as wide as long; sides 

 less curved ; disk with a dei)ression each side, punctured as in purpnreiis. 

 Elytra with sides more rounded, less attenuate behind the middle ; surface 

 irregularly and shallowly punctate. Length 2.5-3 mm. 



Throughout the State; common. June 2-August 11. Mating 

 June 11. Occurs on the foliage of the black gum and the flowers 

 of black haw. milk-weed. etc. 



Family XL. LAMPYRID.K. 



The Firefues or Lightning Btgs. 



The fii'(>tly in June-time doth glow at eventide. In central Indi- 

 ana, during the dusk of the last days of ^Nlay or first week in .lune, 

 the signal lamjjs of these curiously formed beetles begin to appear. 

 A fortnight later they are here by myriads, illumining by their 

 flashes of light the gloom that overhangs low. moist meadows and the 

 darker spots along the banks of streams and ponds or the borders of 

 woodlands. Silently and slowly they wing their way. lighting their 

 signals every few seconds in oi'der to attract unto themselves another 

 of their kind, or as an incitement t<i I'ivalry amongst the males when 

 both sexes are winged. 



