380 



FAMILY XT. STAPHYLINIM. 



The puncture on the apical margin in front of each of these rows is 

 not counted as belonging to the discal or dorsal row, but to the mar- 

 ginal series. 



The males in most species have the front tarsi more or less di- 

 lated and rather pubescent beneath and the terminal ventral seg- 

 ment always more or less emarginate. For convenience the genus 

 was divided by Horn into five groups, all of which are represented 

 in Indiana. 



KEY TO GROUPS OF THE GENUS PHILONTHUS. 



a. Thorax with distinct and regular rows of dorsal punctures. 



b. Front tarsi more or less dilated and silken pubescent beneath. 



c. Three punctures in each dorsal row. Group A. 



cc. Four punctures in each dorsal row. Group B. 



ccc. Five punctures in each dorsal row. Group C. 



bb. Front tarsi filiform in both sexes and finely spinose beneath ; dorsal 

 rows of punctures regular but varying in number. Group D. 



aa. Thorax irregularly punctured, no distinct dorsal rows; front tarsi di- 

 lated. Group E. 



Group A. 



In this group the front tarsi are dilated and the discal rows 

 contain but three punctures each. The following species have been 

 taken or should occur in the State : 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF GROUP A. 



a. Thorax not narrowed in front, as wide as long ; larger, 6 or more mm. 

 b. Elevated line at base of each of the first three dorsal segments of 

 abdomen in the form of a brace. > — , — < ; abdomen above coarsely 

 punctured ; last ventral of male with a triangular notch. 



728. politus. 



bb. Basal lines of dorsal segments straight. 



c. Black or piceous, elytra more or less bronzed. 

 d. Elytra shining, closely punctured ; thorax with a peculiar golden 

 iridescence at base. sericinus. 

 dd. Elytra rather sparsely and finely punctate; head oval, not wider 

 than long; legs reddish-brown. 729. umbratilis. 



cc. Bicolored; black, thorax and base of abdomen red. 



730. IvETULUS. 



aa. Thorax narrowed in front; elevated line at base of dorsal segments 

 straight. 



e. Elytra black, distinctly bronzed, roughly punctate. asper. 

 ee. Elytra dark or dull yellow, not bronzed, simply punctate. 



731. HEPATICUS. 



728 (2149). Philonthus politus Linn., Faun. Suec, 1746, 843. 



Elongate, rather robust. Black, shining: elytra bronzed, sparsely pu- 

 bescent. Antenna? piceous, reaching base of thorax, joints 5-10 broader 



