254 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. m 



Genital capsule and genitalia of male well developed, the para- 

 meres almost concealed by the phallobase (pi. 3, figs. 8, 9), which gives 

 the genitalia a symmetrical appearance. The parameres are tipped 

 with numerous short setae. 



Size variation is considerable, specimens from the Appalachian 

 Mountains being generally smaller than ones taken from the piedmont 

 or coastal plain areas of the East Coast. Several large, elongate, 

 heavily punctured specimens collected in Newfoundland appeared to 

 differ slightly from mainland specimens, but additional specimens and 

 further study are needed to fully determine and correlate structiu"al 

 differences with geographical ones. 



The species can be distinguished by its entirely black dorsal and 

 ventral color, the sutural stria extending around the scutellum to 

 elytra] base, second stria not reaching elytral base, irregularly punctate 

 elytral striae, coarsely rather densely punctured pronotum, shape of 

 the carina of the foretibia, the small carina on the anterior base of the 

 front femur of the males, and the numerous setae on the tips of the 

 parameres almost hidden by the phallobase (pi. 3, figs. 8, 9). 



Geotrupes miarophagus Say as described by Melsheimer (1846, p. 

 139) appears to be synonymous with G. hornii Blanchard, if the de- 

 scription was based upon specimens in the Melsheimer collection now 

 housed in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge. There 

 are only two specimens labeled miarophagus in this collection; the 

 first specimen bears the label "U. S. Melsheimer" with a separate red- 

 margined label "splendidus var. miarophagus Melsh." This specimen 

 is a large female hornii Blanchard (as we now know it). The second 

 specimen, labeled simply '^miarophagus," is a female blackburnii 

 (Fabricius). 



Following his description of Geotrupes hornii, Blanchard (1888, p. 

 109) wrote that Ulke, in correspondence, mentioned that hornii 

 sometimes came to light while balyi did not. While at Henderson- 

 viile, N. C, where both species occurred, I noted hornii was attracted 

 on several occasions to lights whOe balyi was not. This difference in 

 attraction to light was interesting, for in other respects these two 

 species seemed to have very similar habits, often being collected in 

 adjacent burrows under the same fungi. Frost (1929, p. Ill) in 

 Massachusetts stated that hornii 



... is one of the common species of the genus in this locality occurring, according 

 to my series, from August 8 to September 30. It can be easily distinguished 

 from the other species by its pure black color with nonmetallic reflections. I have 

 found it frequently under a fungus having an acrid milky juice (Ladarius, per- 

 haps piperatus) and it often bores from the top down through the stem and into 

 the ground to a depth of 5 or 6 inches; I have never noticed this particular 

 mode of attack by G. balyi J ek. which at times frequents the same species of fungi. 



