NORTH AMERICAN GEOTRUPINAE — HOWDEN 279 



abdomen (pi. 2, fig. 1). The larvae have the metathoracic legs 

 reduced, as does Geotimpes. 



The range of the genus appears to be limited to the deep sand 

 ridges of northern and central peninsular Florida (Young, 1950, p. 88). 



Key to the species of Peltotrupes 



1. Sutural stria by tip of scutellum definitely impressed, other striae evident; 



iridescent color largely purple (subspecies of profundus) 2 



Sutural stria by tip of scutellum not impressed, other striae generally obsolete; 

 iridescent color largely green (4 miles west of Rodman, Fla.) . 



youngi, new species 



2. Median posterior edge of anterior pronotal margin lacking any trace of a 



tubercle (pi. 2, fig. 3b); elytron just behind and below humeral umbone 

 sharply flared before the margin (pi. 2, fig. 4b) (west coast of Florida, 



Gainesville to Tampa) profundus Howden 



Median posterior edge of anterior pronotal margin with V-shaped tubercle (pi. 

 2, fig. 3c) ; elytron just behind and below humeral umbone moderately flared 

 before the margin (pi. 2, fig. 4c) (east coast of Florida, Welaka and St. 

 Augustine) profundus dubius, new subspecies 



Only the larva of Peltotrupes youngi is known; it was described by 

 the writer (Howden, 1952) under the name Geotrupes (Peltotrupes) 

 profundus. Because of the very close relationship of the adults it is 

 somewhat doubtful that consistent morphological differences will be 

 exhibited by the larvae of the other species if they are discovered. 

 Conversely, it is also possible that the larvae may be more easily 

 separated than the adults, which is true in the case of some of the 

 Bolboceras. 



Peltotrupes profundus Howden 



Geotrupes chalybaeus LeConte, 1878, p. 402 (type, male, Florida, LeConte collec- 

 tion, MCZ).— Blanchard, 1888, pp. 103, 110.— Blatchley, 1928, p. 44.— 

 Young, 1950, pp. 88-92 (in part). 



Geotrupes profundus Howden, 1952, p. 41 (in part). 



Length 15 to 23 mm., greatest width 9 to 14 mm. 



Color of dorsum dark reddish brown to almost black, suffused with 

 purplish iridescence, sometimes with bluish and slight traces of greenish 

 iridescence. Iridescence is general but most pronounced on head, 

 margins of pronotum and elytra, and along elytral striae. Ventral 

 surfaces largely dark brown, thorax slightly darker than abdomen. 

 Femora of meso- and metathoracic legs and epipleura dark brown with 

 traces of iridescence. Head with broadly rounded clypeus forming a 

 very obtuse angle with eye canthus (pi. 2, fig. lb). Both clypeus and 

 anterior portion of canthus are margined. Clypeus coarsely, densely, 

 irregularly punctate except on posterior tubercle. Vertex of head 

 with only a few coarse punctures between the eyes. Prothorax 

 sharply and completely margined. Anterior angles obtusely and 



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