280 



FAMILY VIII. SILPHILVE. 



Fig. 140. 



(Original.) 



546 (1729). Choleva basillakis Say, Journ. Phil. 



Acad. Nat. Sci, III, 1823, 194; ibid. 

 II, 124. 



Oblong, moderately elongate. Head and thorax pic- 

 -\ eous ; elytra dark brown, paler at base, the surface 

 pubescent, moderately shining. Thorax more than half 

 as wide as long, slightly narrowed in front, base feebly 

 k curved ; elytra very little wider than the thorax, nar- 

 rower behind, not densely punctured. Length 3-4 mm. 

 (Fig. 140.) 



Marion, Clark and Posey counties ; scarce. 

 March 25-May 21. Those from Marion County 

 were taken from the nest of a shrew. 



547 (1730). Choleva clavicornis Lee, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VI. 

 1853, 281. 



Oval, slightly oblong. Head and thorax dark brown, or piceous ; elytra 

 pale brown, pubescent. Antennae scarcely reaching hind angles of thorax, 

 piceous, the apical and two basal joints paler. Thorax twice as wide as 

 long, the surface rather densely punctate. Elytra oval, gradually narrowed 

 to apex, not wider than thorax. Length 2.5-3 mm. 



Kosciusko, Marion, Putnam and Dubois counties ; scarce. March 

 13-August 17. 



*548 (1732). Choleva teeminans Lee, Agass. Lake Sup., 1850, 218. 



Oblong-oval. Piceous or brownish, finely pubescent. Antenna as in 

 clavicornis. Thorax twice as wide at base as long; sides curved and nar- 

 rowed to front ; hind angles rectangular, surface- finely and densely punctn- 

 late. Elytra as wide at base as thorax, gradually narrowing to apex; su 

 tural stria rather deeply impressed ; surface not densely punctate. Length 

 2.5-3 mm. 



Throughout the State ; frequent. Hibernates as imago. April 

 12-Becember 5. Taken in deserted nests of mice ; also on dead 

 hens and fungi. 



V. Prionoch^eta Horn. 1880. (Gr., "a saw + bristle. ") 



Here belongs a single medium-sized black species having the an- 

 tenna? as long as head and thorax, the last four joints abruptly 

 shorter than those preceding ; middle tarsi of male not dilated. 



549 (1734). Pkionoch^eta opaca Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 1825. 

 184 ; ibid. II, 289. 



Oblong-oval, slightly narrower behind the middle, the thoracic and ely- 

 tral margins nearly continuous. Black, feebly shining, clothed with short, 

 dark brown hairs; antennae piceous, the apex and base paler. Thorax less 

 tban twice as wide as long; hind angles obtuse, surface finely and densely 



