THE GROUND BEETLES. 



105 



their striae are distinctly punctured in but one of the nine, while 

 the hind angles of thorax are never carinate. The group includes 

 the subgenera Triozna and Amara of Hay ward's paper. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF GROUP B. 



a. Apical spur of front tibia} trifid ; scutellar stria of elytra terminating 

 in an ocellate (eye-like) puncture at base; antennae with the three 

 or four basal joints pale. 



b. Thorax narrowed from base to apex, its hind angles obtuse; fourth 



joint of antennae in great part pale. 155. angustata. 



bJ). Thorax narrowed from slightly behind the middle to apex, hind 

 angles sharply rectangular ; fourth joint of antennae in great part 

 piceous. PALLIPES. 

 a a. Apical spur of front tibiae simple. 



c. Basal joints of antennae not carinate ; presternum of male not punc- 



tured. 



d. Scutellar stria terminating in an ocellate puncture ; femora piceous 

 or dark reddish-brown, tibiae and tarsi paler. 



156. IMPUNCTICOLLIS. 



eld. Scutellar stria without ocellate puncture. 



c. Elytra 1 striae punctured; base of thorax finely punctured. 



157. BASILLAEIS. 



ee. Elytra 1 striae not or obsoletely punctured ; base of thorax smooth. 

 f. Thorax narrowing from basal angles to apex ; form broad, ro- 

 bust ; terminal spur of front tibiae stouter than usual. 



CEASSISPINA. 



ff. Thorax narrowing from in front of base ; form oblong-oval ; 

 terminal spur of front tibiae normal. 158. ctjpreolata. 



eo. Antennae with basal joints 2 and 3 carinate above. 



g. Scutellar stria ending in. an ocellate puncture. 159. fallax. 



gg. Scutellar stria without puncture. 



h. Basal impressions of thorax very faint; larger, 7.5-9 mm. 



160. PBOTENSA. 



hh. Basal impressions of thorax distinct, the outer oblique; smaller. 

 6-7 mm. 161. poltta. 



155 (651). Amara angustata Say. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. IT. 1S23, 36: 

 ibid. II, 463. 542. 



Oval, convex. Black, bronzed, shining ; legs dull reddish-yellow. Thorax 

 one-half wider than long, hind angles obtusely rounded, outer basal impres- 

 sion obsolete, the inner small, sparsely or not at all punctured. Elytra 

 not wider than thorax, gradually narrowed from the base; surface finely 

 alutaceous. the stri?p not punctured, or sparsely punctate at base; scutellar 

 stria ending in a large eve-like puncture. Length 6-7.5 mm. 



Common in southern half of the State; less so in the north. 

 April lO-.Tune 20. On the first warm days of early spring this spe- 

 cies and the next are often found running rapidly about near the 

 bases of trees and stumps in open woodiand pastures. 



