Scarabaeidae of Nebraska 61 



SCARABAEIDAE 



Antennae inserted under the sides of the front, before the 

 eyes, 7- to 11-segmented (usually 10-segmented), the distal 

 segments, usually three in number (sometimes as many as 

 seven), produced transversely, forming a club of thin plates 

 which are capable of mutual contact throughout their length. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA 



1. Last abdominal spiracle covered by the elytra 2 



Last abdominal spiracle not covered by the elytra 18 



2. Scutellum not visible, the inner edges of the elytra in contact 

 clear to the base; hind tibae with only one spur 3 



Scutellum visible, clearly separating the inner margins of the 

 elytra at the base; hind tibiae with two spurs 7 



3. Middle and hind tibiae slender, curved and nearly parallel 

 sided beyond the middle (p. 171) Canthoyi 



Middle and hind tibiae much wider at the tip, the sides distinctly 

 divergent beyond the middle 4 



4. Front coxae not prominent, very transverse, the axis nearly hori- 

 zonal; upper surface bare, polished and shining (p. 175) Choeridium 



Front coxae prominent, the axis nearly vertical or erect 5 



5. Front legs without tarsi, middle and hind tarsi ending in a 

 sharp, curved point, but without claws (p. 177) Phanaeus 



Front legs with tarsi, and all tarsi with claws 6 



6. Elytra strongly furrowed or longitudinally grooved; larger spe- 

 cies, 12-17 mm. in length (p. 176) Copris 



Elytra more or less lined longitudinally, but not deeply fur- 

 rowed; smaller species, 4-13 mm. in length.... (p. 178) Onthophagus 



7. Front femora much wider than the others, usually held forward 

 so as to largely conceal the under surface of the head and an- 

 tennae; surface of body and elytra dull and opaque, often much 

 roughened (p. 198) Trox 



Front femora of usual form and not held so as to conceal the 



167 



