A SYNOPSIS OF THE SCARABAEIDAE OF NEBRASKA 

 (COLEOPTERA) 



BY R. W. DAWSON 



LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 



Several years ago the writer undertook a study of the 

 "June-bug" family (Scarabaeidae) for the state of Nebraska. 

 The object of the study was two fold: First to determine the 

 number and status of our species in this large and economi- 

 cally important family, and second to present a taxonomic 

 review which would enable the beginning student, or in- 

 terested amateur, to readily name with reasonable certainty 

 any species which he might encounter in the state. 



In the following pages 40 genera and 162 species are tabu- 

 lated, and notes given on the abundance, seasonal and geo- 

 graphical distribution of the species within the state. Four- 

 teen species are included without definite records of capture, 

 because of their known distribution being such as to practi- 

 cally insure their ultimate discovery in Nebraska. The list 

 is thought to be fairly representative; however, continued 

 collecting will undoubtedly bring to light a considerable 

 number of additional species. In order to more readily 

 enable the student to recognize and determine these additional 

 species the more important and useful papers have been listed 

 under each genus. 



The collection of the Department of Entomology contains 

 a wealth of material in this family from other states, in fact 

 about 280 species most of which are unlike those in the Ne- 

 braska fauna. The determination of this supplementary 

 material has considerably increased the labor involved in 

 presenting the present paper, but the writer judges the time 

 well spent because of the light thrown upon the Nebraska 

 fauna in consequence of the study of these related forms. 

 Seven undescribed species have come to light from Nebraska 



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