THE SHINING FUNGUS BEETLES. 



495 



III. Toxidium Lee. 1860. (Gr., "-a bow i -small") 



Small black or brownish beetles having the body compressed and 

 narrowed behind the middle; scutellum absent; hind coxae narrowly 

 separated. One of the two species occurs in the State. 

 949 (2988). Toxidium compres sum Zimm., Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, II, 

 1869, 251. 



Dark reddish-brown, highly polished ; an- 

 tennae, legs and tip of abdomen paler. An- 

 tennae slender, about as long as head and 

 thorax. Side margin of thorax prominent 

 and carinate in front, but rapidly deflexed 

 and pressed against the sides just behind 

 the middle; hind angles obtusely rounded. 

 Metasternum coarsely and deeply punc- 

 * tured throughout. Length 1.4-1.7 mm. (Fig. 



Fig. 176. X 15. (Original.) 176 J 



Throughout the State ; frequent. March 17-No- \ \ / A 

 vember 14. Probably hibernates. Taken by sifting 

 in late autumn and early spring. 



IV. 



(Gr., a bowl 



Scaphisoma Leach. 1812. 



body.") 



Species resembling those of Bmocera, but having the ' . a ,. 



r , e ° Fig. 177. Scaphi- 



third antenna! joint short and narrowed on basal half, * 07na . mridnum. x 



" 7. A European spe- 



and the scutellum always present but minute. (Fig. cies - (After Sharp.) 

 177.) They are of small size and occur beneath bark, in fungi, and 

 can also be taken by sifting in late autumn or early spring. The 

 following species have been taken or probably occur in Indiana: 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF SCAPHISOMA. 



a. Metasternum strongly but sparsely punctate over most of its surface ; 

 length 1.7 mm. kepanda. 

 act. Metasternum almost smooth or only punctured over part of its area. 

 1). Larger species, never much under 2.3 mm. in length. 



c. Form elongate-oval; elytra finely, rather closely and uniformly 

 punctate; the punctures twice as numerous as in convexa. 



950. punctulata. 



cc. Form broadly oval; elytra distinctly but less densely punctate; 

 metasternum between the middle and hind coxa? coarsely and 

 strongly punctate. 951. convexa. 



hi). Smaller species, seldom more than 1.7 mm. in length. 



(1. Elytra not paler at apex, except feebly and gradually from semi- 

 transparency. 



e. Elytra sparsely but strongly punctate; length 1.8 mm. 



952. SUTURALIS. 



I 32 -23402] 



