THE HISTER BEETLES. 611 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF THE SUBGENUS PHELISTEB. 



o. Thorax with distinct submarginal stria; elytra with five entire dorsal 



striae. 1163. subbotundus. 



no. Thorax with no submarginal stria ; elytra with four entire dorsal striae. 



1164. VEBNUS. 



*1163 (3515). HisTEE suBROTUNDUs Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 

 1825, 39 ; ibid. II, 265. 

 Broadly rounded-oval, convex. Darli reddish-brown to blackish, shin- 

 ing; antennae and legs reddish-brown. Thorax finely punctulate on the 

 disk, more coarsely on the sides; the stria distinct but very close to mar- 

 gin. Sutural stria of elytra extending in front of middle. Pygidium 

 sparsely and minutely punctulate. Front tibiae with a number of fine teeth. 

 Length 2-2.5 mm. 



Througliout the State ; common beneath bark and often in fungi 

 on oak stumps and logs. Hibernates, ilareh 12-December 10. 



*1164 (3516). HisTEE VERNXJs Say, loc. eit, 40; ibid. II, 266. 



Oblong-oval, convex. Black, shining; antennae and legs reddish-brown. 

 Disk of thorax sparsely and finely, the sides much more coarsely, punctate; 

 marginal stria absent. Elytra with four entire dorsal striae, the fifth and 

 sutural extending from apex to middle. Front tarsi with eight or nine 

 teeth, the apical three larger, subequal. Length 2.5 mm. 



Southern half of State; frequent. Hibernates. Occurs most 

 commonlj' beneath logs and bark, in low, moist, sandy places. Janu- 

 ary 6-October 9. 



Subgenus III. (Plattsoma.) 



SmaU oval, oblong or cylindrical, often much depressed species, 

 having the front tibiiB with a deep, sinuate tarsal groove; thorax 

 without inner marginal strin? ; middle and hind tibiae armed with 

 two to four teeth or short spines ; front tibije without a tooth on the 

 inner side near the base ; prosternum without strise. Six species of 

 the subgenus have been taken in Indiana, while another may occur. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF SUBGEXCS PLATYSOMA. 



(I. Body broad, not twice as long as wide, more or less depressed; elytra 

 with not more than three entire dorsal striae. 

 6. Sutural stria well marked ; front tibiae with five teeth. 



1165. OAEOIINUS. 



hb. Sutural stria either obsolete or wholly absent ; front tibiae with four 



teeth. 



c. Sides of thorax punctured. 1166. lecontei. 



cc. Sides of thorax smooth. 1167. aukelianus. 



aa. Body elongate, always as long or longer than twice the width, either 



cylindrical or depressed; elytra with more than three entire dorsal 



strise. 



