290 



FAMILY VIII. SILPHID^E. 



c. Surface very smooth, wholly piceous. 565. politum. 



cc. Elytra distinctly punctulate, each usually with two large oblique 

 yellow spots. pulchbum. 



563 (1794). Agathidium oniscoides Beauv., Ins. Afr. et Anter., 1805, 160. 

 Body perfectly contractile. Black or piceous, smooth and shining. Thorax 



nearly twice as wide as long, apex deeply emarginate, front angles broadly 

 rounded. Elytra, viewed from above, almost circular in outline. Length, 

 extended, 3.5-4 mm. (Fig. 144, a and upper 6.) 



Southern half of State: frequent; less so in the northern por- 

 tion. April 22-November 28. Occurs beneath bark, especially that 

 of logs bearing fungus growth. 



564 (1795). Agathidium exiguum Mels., Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., II, 



1844, 103. 



Resembles a small form of the preceding. Distinguished by its smaller 

 size, with the body less perfectly contractile; sutural stria distinct under 

 the lens. Length 2-2.5 mm. 



Posey and Marion counties ; scarce. March 17-May 6. 



*565 (1806). Agathidium politum Lee. Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1866, 

 370. 



Oval, very convex, contractile. Color variable from reddish-brown to 

 piceous, shining. Thorax more than twice as wide as long, narrowed in 

 front, apex rather deeply emarginate, hind angles broadly rounded. Elytra 

 oval, nearly as wide as long, sutural stria rather long, finely impressed; 

 surface either smooth or, in the paler specimens, finely punctate. Length 

 2-2.5 mm. (Fig. 144, lower &.) 



Throughout the State ; frequent. April 30-December 25. Hi- 

 bernates as imago. 



A. pulchrum Lee, thorax reddish-yellow with a large rounded 

 discal piceous space ; length 2.5-3 mm, has been taken in Kentucky. 



XIV. Aglyptus Lec. 1866. ('Gr., 1 1 without + sculpture. ") 



In this genus the head is broad and flat, with distinct antennal 

 grooves beneath ; antennae 11-jointed, the last three joints forming 

 an oblong club, the terminal one broader and longer than the tenth - 

 tarsi slender, the front ones dilated and 4- jointed in the male, 3- 

 jointed in the female; middle and hind ones 3-jointed in both sexes. 

 One very small species occurs in the eastern United States, including 

 Indiana. 



566 (1809). Aglyptus lzevis Lec, Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VI, 1853, 284. 



Oval, strongly convex, very little longer than wide. Piceous, or dark 

 reddish-brown, strongly shining; surface without sculpture. Thorax with 

 margin and base translucent; hind angles rectangular. Length 1-1.5 mm. 

 (Fig. 144, c.) 



