THE CARRION BEETLES. 



281 



punctulate. Elytra as wide and a little more than twice as long as thorax, 

 rather densely punctulate, substriate near the tip, the sutural stria distinct. 

 Length 5 mm. ( Fig. 139, It.) 



Throughout the State, but scarce. April 13-August 12. Usu- 

 ally on fungi, but sifted from nests of rabbits in spring and beaten 

 from vegetation in June. 



VI. Ptomophagus Illig. 1798. (Gr., "a corpse -r eat.") 



Small oval or slightly oblong-brownish beetles, having the eighth 

 antennal joint always shorter and usually slightly narrower than 

 the seventh and ninth. The surface of elytra, and often that of 

 thorax, is transversely finely wrinkled instead of being punctate. 

 Four species are known from Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OE PTOMOPHAGUS. 



a. Eighth joint of antenna? very short and transverse, somewhat narrower 

 than the seventh and ninth. 

 b. Thorax transversely strigose or finely wrinkled ; elytra very obliquely 

 strigose. (Fig. 139, c.) 550. consobpjni s. 



o&. Thorax punctate, rarely strigose near the margin. 



c. Inner spur of hind tibiae as long as the first tarsal joint; thorax 

 of same color as elytra. 551. oblitus. 



cc. Inner spur of hind tibia? less than half the length of first tarsal 

 joint; thorax distinctly darker than elytra. 552. pusio. 



aa. Eighth joint of antennae at least half the length of the ninth and scarce- 

 ly narrower ; thorax rather densely punctate. 553. parasites. 



550 (1735). Ptomophagus consobeinus Lee. Prcc. Phil. Acad. Nat. ScL, 



VI, 1853, 281. 



Oblong-oval, somewhat wedge-shaped. Dark brown or piceous. feebly 

 shining, pubescent; legs and antennae at base paler. Thorax one-third 

 wider at base than long, hind angles acutely rectangular. Elytra gradually 

 narrowing to near apex, the latter suddenly obliquely narrowed. Length 

 2.5-3 mm. (Fig. 139, c.) 



Putnam and Posey counties: scarce. April 17-May 7. The 

 fine wrinkles on the surface of both thorax and elytra show very 

 prettily beneath a lens. 



551 (1740). Ptomophagus oblitus Lee, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. ScL, 1853. 



282. 



Resembles the next species, but differs by characters given in key and 

 by its larger size. Head piceous ; thorax and elytra dark reddish-brown. 

 Hind angles of thorax more obtuse and sutural striae of elytra less im- 

 pressed than in pusio. Length 2-2.2 mm. 



Lawrence County: scarce. June 11. Taken from carrion- 

 baited traps. Known from Georgia and Florida. 



