THE CARRION BEETLES. 



277 



541 (1709). Silpha noveboracensis Forst, Cent. Ins., I, 1771, 17. 



Oval, slightly oblong, depressed. Thorax piceous, broadly 

 margined with reddish-yellow; elytra brownish to piceous. 

 Thorax about one-half wider than long, base truncate at mid- 

 dle, sinuate each side; elytra as broad as thorax, rounded be- 

 hind, the disk with three costse, the outer one the stronger; 

 surface distinctly and regularly punctate. Length 13-14 mm. 

 (Fig. 137.) 



Marion, Vigo and Posey counties; frequent. April 10- July 2 

 Sometimes found on decaying fungi ; more often on carrion. 



Fg. 137. 

 (After Coinstock.) 



542 (1710) 



Fig. 138. X H 

 (After Glover.) 



Silpha ameeicana Linn., Syst. Nat, II, 1766, 570. 



Broadly oval, depressed. Thorax yellow, with discal 

 black spot ; elytra brownish, with the elevations darker. 

 Thorax nearly twice as wide as long, much narrowed 

 in front, base broadly lobed at middle, surface densely 

 and equally punctured. Elytra as wide or wider con- 

 jointly than long, the disk with three indistinct costse. 

 connected by numerous cross elevations ; intervals rather 

 closely punctate. Length 16-20 mm. (Fig. 138.) 



Throughout the State ; frequent, April 18-July 

 9. Taken in coitu on June 4. Often found in de- 

 caying fundus as well as carrion. 



III. Necrophilus Lat. 1829. (Gr., "a dead body + loving. ") 



This genus is represented in the United States by only two spe- 

 cies, one of which occurs in Indiana. 



543 (1714). Neceophilus pettitii Horn, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, VIII, 1880, 

 243. 



Broadly oval, narrower in front. Dark chestnut brown, shining, gla- 

 brous. Thorax nearly twice as wide at base as long at middle, sides curved, 

 apex emarginate, base truncate ; margin broadly flattened and recurved, 

 translucent; surface sparsely punctate, the disk nearly smooth. Elytra 

 suddenly sloping downward near apex, the surface with rows of coarse, 

 deep punctures. Length 10-11 mm. 



Two specimens were taken in very ill-smelling decaying fungi 

 beneath a log in woods near Grand Chain. Posey County. April 

 10. Dury has taken it in small numbers on several occasions near 

 Cincinnati, but it seems to be everywhere scarce. 



Tribe II. PINODYTINI. 



This tribe is represented in North America by three small, blind, 

 oblong, chestnut- colored beetles. On^ of these. Pinodytes crypto- 

 phagoides Mann., lives in the fine debris of rotten wood and has 



