THE DARKLING BEETLES. 12i7 



*L':jHi; (7391). Xvctobates pkxx.svlva.mca DeGeer, Mem., V. 1770. 52. 



Elongate-oial. convex. Black, feebly shiuiug. Montum coarsely punc- 

 tate. Thorax siibquadrate. slightly narrowed in front, hind angles rectangu- 

 lar ; surf ace finely and sparsely punctate. Elytra faintly alutaceous, marked 

 with rows of fine punctures ; intervals feebly convex, minutely and sparsely 

 punctulate. Length 20-23 mm. 



Throughout the State; common in the southern counties, less so 

 northward. Gregarious in winter beneath hark and logs. February 

 14^December 11. 



2;;0.S (7391a). Xyctobates b.irbata Knoch, X. Beitrag., 1801, 166. 



Resembles iionisylcuiiivu but usually smaller and piceous rather than 

 l)lack in hue. Thorax a little broader than long, less narrowed in front, 

 the sides more strouf^ly rounded. Stirface more distinctly alutaceous, the 

 punctures of both thorax and el.\tra coarser. Length 17-20 mm. 



Lawrence, Spencer and Posey counties; rare. April 1.5-.Tuly 27. 

 A southern form w'hi<:'h probably occurs only in the southern third 

 of State. Listed as a variety of pi'iDisylvanica but, in my opinion, 

 distinct. 



IpliUiiiiius fj/jdcus Lee., black, opariue, head and thorax co^ir-rly 

 and confiuently punctured, elytra with deep, interrupted stri-.v, 

 length 15-20 mm., is known from Xe\\' England and Canada and 

 may occur in northern Indiana. 



IL MERixrsLec. 1862. (Gr.. "thigh -K'urve.") 



Here belimas the laruest member of the family found in the 

 State, an elongate black form having the epipleuriP extending be- 

 yond the last ventral suture, but not reaching the tips of elytra ; 

 mentum with the middle lobe prominent along the middle, the side 

 lobes with acute front angles; hind coxse rather widely separated, 

 the intercoxal process oval, rounded in front. 



2;;01: (7400). Meei>;us levis Oliv., Ent, III. 1795, 10. 



Elongate-oval. Black, feebly shining. Thorax about as long as wide. 

 slightly narrowed in front, sides strongly curved, hind angles obtuse, sur- 

 face very finely and sjiarsely punctate. Elytra with rows of very minute 

 punctures; intei-vals faintly convex, sniouth. Males with the hind tlbi.-e 

 much curved and with an acute tooth near the tip. I>ength is-2i! mm. 



Throughout the State; scarce, ilarch 28-.July 9. Occurs be- 

 neath bark. Very apt to be confused with .V. pennstjlvanicn. but 

 leadily distinguished by the club-shaped hind femora and the pe- 

 culiar hind tibicT of male. 



[70—2.3402] 



