THE fEDEMERlD BEETLES. 1-307 



III. AscLERA Schmidt. 1846. (Gr., "not + hard.") 



Elongate, slender blackish forms having the elytra distinctly 

 costate; last joint of maxillary palpi triangular; tarsal claws 

 toothed at base. Two of the six recognized species occur in the 

 State. 



241."i (7751'). AsiLERA RUFUdi.i.is Say. .Tourn. Phil. Ac-id. Xat. Sci., III. 

 181'4, 271 ; il)id. II. Kio. 

 Klougale. slender. I'.laek, (ipiique; thorax wholly red. Thora.x; hroader 

 than lung, sides curved in front, dblique behind; disk smooth, except a row 

 of coarse punctures along the base and three broad foveae, one each side of 

 middle, the other, more shallow, in front of scutellum. Elytra each with 

 three well marked dorsal costie: intervals densely and minutely granulate- 

 punctate. Length 5-6..5 mm. 



Throughout the State; frequent southward, much less so in the 

 northern counties. April 7-]\!a>' 23. Occurs on flowers, especially 

 those of the yellow adder's tonuuc or dog's tooth violet {Erijthra- 

 mu')n aincricniui m Ker.) ; also on those of willow, wild plum, black 

 haw, etc. 



24ir, (7753). AscLERA pixctkolus Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Xat. Sci., Ill, 

 1824, 27:; ; ibid. II, 161. 

 Form and color of nijicollis except that the thorax has a large central 

 blackish spot aiid has the disk depressed at middle, without fnve.e, finely 

 and densely punctate. Elytra often with a slight purplish tinge, the cost;e 

 distinct but less prominent. I/Cngth 0..5-S mm. 



Putnam and Posey counties ; scarce. April 12-]\Iay 6. Occurs 

 (in flowers of wild plum, etc. 



IV ()x.\cis Lcc. ISGti. (dr., "sharp + c(liie.") 



Here belong about 15 slender species, having the antennae in- 

 serted close to the eyes, ^vhich are emarginate; mandibles acute at 

 tip ; claws usually simple. But one has been taken in the State. 



2417 (7741). OxAcis t.eniata Lee. Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VTI. 

 1S.54, 21. 



Elongate, slender. Dull brownish-yellow ; thorax with the sides usual- 

 Iv piceous, often with a median blackish sput and a small rounded one eac'.i 

 side in front; antennie dull yellow to piceous, the basal joint longer than 

 the third. Thorax (ilicvate, h.nger than wide, without transverse impres- 

 sion; rather finely and densely punctate. Elytra finely and densely punc- 

 tate without trace of costa'. Length 7-1) mm. 



I'oscy County; r;ire. ;\Iay IS. Beaten from fluwers of the false 

 indiuo. A member of the .\ustroriparian fauna. 



