274 



FAMILY VIII. — SILPHIDiE. 



.J^^^ 



black elj'tra, which are truncate at tip, and ornamented with con- 

 spicuous reddish-yellow spots. The head is 

 large, suddenly narrowed in front of eyes and 

 also at a little distance behind them. The an- 

 tenna; are spoken of as ten-jointed, but the 

 true second joint appears as a node at the base 

 of the one usually called the second. (Fig. 

 134. ) They are frequently known as ' ' sexton 

 beetles, ' ' on account of their habits of burying 

 small mammals and snakes. Six species have 

 been taken in Indiana. 



Fig. 134. Necrophorus: 1, 

 antennje: 2. tarsus; 3, head 

 from beneath. 



(After Westwood.) 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES 0¥ NECEOPHOKUS. 



a. Hind, and usually the middle, tibiae curved or arcuate. 



6. Thorax orbicular, its sides and base with wide, flattened margins, 

 disk finely and sparsely punctulate. 

 c. Disk of thorax red ; elytra without erect hairs. 



533. AMERICANUS. 



cc. Disk of thorax black ; elytra with erect hairs. 53i. sayi. 



66. Thorax transversely cordate, its sides narrowly margined and sin- 

 uate at middle ; disk smooth ; first joint of antenual club red. 



535. MAEQINATUS. 



aa. Tibise straight, not arcuate. 



d. Thorax orbicular as in americanus and saui. 536. obbicollis. 



dd. Thorax transversely oval, very little narrowed behind ; sides and base 



broadly margined. 



e. Disk of thorax glabrous; antenual club orange, the first joint pic- 



eous. 587. pustulatus. 



ee. Disk of thorax densely pubescent ; antenual club piceous. 



538. TOMENTOSUS. 



533 (1695). Necrophoeus ameeican'is Oliv., Ent, II, 1790, 6. 

 Elongate, robust. Black, shining; vertex, disk of ^ 



thorax, epipleural fold and two large irregular 

 transverse spots on each elytron, orange-red ; an- 

 teimse black, the club orange-red. Thorax wider 

 than long, truncate in front; disk with a few scat- 

 tered punctures along tlie margins. Length 27- 

 35 mm. (Fig. 135.) 



Marion, Vigo and Posey counties; fre- 

 quent. April 28- August 11. Probably occurs 

 throughout the State. Often attracted by 

 electric light. Our largest species, readily 

 known by its size and the color of head and 

 thorax. 



534 (1696). Neceophoeus sayi Lap., Hist. Nat. 



II, 1839, 2. 

 Elongate, moderately robust. Resembles oriicol- 



Kg. 135. X IJ. (Original.) 



