THE OAElilON BEETLES. 281 



punetulate. Elytra as \vide and a little more than twice as long as thorax, 

 rather densely mmctnlatc, substriate near the tip, the sutural stria distinct. 

 Length 5 mm. (Fig. j;',<j, j;^.) 



Throughout the State, but scarce. April 13-August 12. Usu- 

 ally on fungi, but sifted from nests of rabbits in spring and beaten 

 from vegetation in June. 



VI. Ptomophagus lUig. 1798. (Gr., "a corpse + eat.") 

 Small oval or slightly oblong-bro^vnish beetles, having the eighth 

 antennal joint ahvays shorter and usually slightly narrower than 

 the seventh and ninth. The surface of elytra, and often that of 

 thorax, is transversely finely wrinkled instead of being punctate. 

 Four species are kno-wn from Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF PTOMOPHAGUS. 



(1. Eighth joint of antenn;e very short and transverse, somewhat narrower 

 than the seventh and ninth. 

 6. Thora.x: transversely strigose or finely wrinkled ; elytra very obliquely 

 strigose. (Fig. 139, c.) . 550. coNSOBRiAiis. 



66. Thorax punctate, rarely strigose near the margin. 



e. Inner spur of hind tibite as long as the first tarsal joint; thijra.-i; 



of same color as elytra. 551. oBLirub. 



cc. Inner spur of hind tibite less than half the length of first tarsal 



joint; thorax distinctly darker than elytra. 552. pusio. 



aa. Eighth joint of antennte at le.-ist half the length of the ninth and scan-e- 



ly narrower; thorax rather densely punctate. .jri:5. pabasitis. 



550 (1735). Ptomophagus consobeixus Lee, Pmr. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 



VI, 1S53, 281. 

 Oblong-oval, somewhat wedge-shaped. Dark brown or piceous, feelily 

 shining, pubescent ; legs and antenna} at base paler. Thorax one-third 

 wider at base than long, hind angles acutely rectangular. Elytra gradu;'lly 

 narrowing to near aiiex, the latter suddenly obliquely narrowed. Lengtli 

 2.5-3 mm. (Fig. 139, c.) 



Putnam and Posey counties; scarce. April 17-^lay 7. The 

 fine wrinkles on the surface of both thorax and elytra shoM- ver.\- 

 prettily beneath a lens. 



551 (1740). Ptomophagis obijtis Lee., Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1X5.;, 



282. 

 Resembles the next species, but differs by characters given in ke.^• and 

 by its larger size. Head piceous ; thorax and elytra dark reddish-brown. 

 Hind angles of thorax more obtuse and sutural striae of elytra less im- 

 pressed than in punio. Length 2-2.2 mm. 



Lawrence County; scarce. June 11. Taken from carrion- 

 baited traps. Known from Georgia and Florida, 



