NORTH AMERICAN GEOTRUPINAE — HOWDEN 249 



The species can be distinguished by its oval, very convex form, 

 pronounced punctures in elytral striae, external carina on foretibia 

 curved inward opposite penultimate tooth (pi. 2, fig. 12), black color 

 with traces of blue or green iridescence along elytral striae, margins, 

 and on head, and by the shape of male genitalia (pi. 5, fig. 1). 



Geotrwpes egeriei, ranging east of the Mississippi River from New 

 Hampsliire southward to Florida, appeared to me to be a rather com- 

 mon but elusive species. In three years of intermittent collecting at 

 Southern Pines, N. C, I did not see a single specimen of egeriei in this 

 locality except for specimens that were taken in cans of fermenting 

 malt. In dry areas such as Southern Pines, the beetles were seldom 

 taken in any other manner. Occasionally a few specimens came to 

 butyric acid, but malt was by far the best attractant. 



In the mountains near Mills River, N. C, specimens were taken in 

 late July, August, and September feeding on the fungi Clitocybe 

 gigantea (Fries) Quelet and Russula emefica (Fries) Kummer (deter- 

 mined by Dr. H. Fink, North Carolina Experiment Station at Mills 

 River) . In the drier nonmountainous localities specimens were seldom 

 taken at fungi. On one occasion in October several specimens were 

 found under rotten watermelon at Faison, N. C. Alanee's note 

 (1908a, p. 288) about collecting balyi under rotten watermelon at 

 Southern Pines should be referred to egeriei, as Manee's specimens 

 (seen by the writer) were incorrectly identified. In addition to find- 

 ing specimens around decomposing vegetable matter, dung, and fungi, 

 they were occasionally found attracted to light. 



A number of adults were taken in bm-rows under cow dung at Mills 

 River, N. C, and at Interlachen, Fla. The beetles taken at fungi had 

 constructed burrows only 5 or 6 inches deep, but the burrows under 

 dung were noticeably deeper. In the mountains, one burrow went 

 18 inches into the hard red clay, and at Interlachen, in the loose sand, 

 several of the burrows reached a depth of 3 feet. The burrows, 

 whether in sand or clay, were typically vertical with a small push-up 

 around the opening. Often the burrows were open; at other times a 

 small plug of dirt was found near the entrance. 



It was noticed that there was a long period of adult activity, speci- 

 mens being taken in every month from April to November. The 

 greatest numbers, which seemed to include newly emerged specimens, 

 were seen in August and September. Several deep burrows under old 

 cow dung at MiUs River yielded pairs of egeriei in July, but there was 

 no indication of either mating or nidification. The burrows typically 

 were under rather old, dried pieces of cow dung. This was different 

 from Geotrupes hlackhurnii, which typically was found under fresh 

 droppings. 



