THE SHOET- WINGED SCAVENGES BEETLES. 



449 



not wider than elytra, sides gradually narrowing from base to apex. Ely 

 tra as wide as long, both they and abdomen sparsely punctulate and pubes- 

 cent. Length 2.5-3 mm. 



Throughout the State; common. January 7-November 1. Oc- 

 curs beneath bark, dead leaves, etc., in open woodland. 



LXIV. Erchomus Mots. 1858. (Gr., "to enter.") 



Very small black or piceous species, having the mesosternum 

 carinate, and front tarsi of male simple. Two of the four known 

 species occur in the State. 



*862 (2644). Erchomus ventkiculus Say, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, IV, 

 1834, 466 ; ibid. II, 582. 

 Short, broad, convex, narrowed behind. Black, strongly shining ; elytra 

 and abdomen with a reddish-piceoiis tinge ; antennae and legs dark reddish- 

 brown. Thorax twice as wide as long, as wide at base as elytra ; very finely 

 and sparsely punctate. Elytra together one-third longer than wide, one- 

 half longer than thorax, finely but distinctly punctate. Abdomen, as ex- 

 posed, shorter than elytra, minutely punctulate. Last ventral of male with 

 a semicircular notch. Length 2-2.5 mm. 



Throughout the State ; common. April 5-December 25. Occurs 

 in colonies beneath bark, especially that of elm and red oak. 



863 (2645). Erchomus l^vis Lee, N. Sp. N. Amer. Col., I, 1863, 31. 



Similar to ventriculus in form and color. Differs in having the upper 

 surface wholly smooth and last ventral of male triangularly notched. Length 

 2-2.5 mm. 



Posey County; rare. April IS. Occurs beneath dead leaves. 

 A member of the Austroriparian fauna. 



LXV. Conosoma Kraatz. 1858. (Gr., "cone + body. ") 



The lack of a margin on the sides of the abdomen especially dis- 

 tinguishes this genus from all others of the tribe. The species are 

 of small size, brown, piceous or black in color, and the segments of 

 the abdomen are in death usually telescoped so that the abdomen as 

 exposed extends but little beyond the elytra. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF CONOSOMA. 



a. Mesosternum not carinate but obtusely elevated ; body subdepressed. 

 &. Thorax piceous, hind angles broadly reddish-yellow. littokeum. 

 1)1). Thorax dull yellow, apical half or third piceous. S64. knoxii. 



aa. Mesosternuin distinctly carinate. 



c. Middle tibiae with only one terminal spur. 

 d. Body robust, convex ; hind angles broadly rounded ; elytra piceous. 

 usually narrowly paler along the base. 865. ceassum. 



