THE LADY BEETLES. 



521 



995 (3096). Brachyacantha quadripunctata Melsh., Proc. Phil. Acad. 

 Nat. Set, III, 1847, 178. 

 Broadly rounded. Black, shining, coarsely and rather sparsely punc- 

 tate ; head yellow in male, black with a yellow V-like mark in female ; tho- 

 rax with front margin narrowly yellow in male, the region of apical angles 

 broadly yellow in that sex, narrowly yellow in female ; elytral spots large, 

 rounded. Beneath black, the tibiae and tarsi paler. Length 3-3.5 mm. 



Vigo, Posey and Jackson counties ; scarce. Occurs especially on 

 maple trees infested with plant lice. May 20-July 8. Casey calls it 

 basalis Melsh. The two names were proposed by Melsheimer at the 

 same time, 4-punctata on page 178, and basalis on page 179, the 

 former therefore having priority. 



XIV. Hyperaspis Eedt. 1843. (Gr., " above + a shield.") 



Small, oval or rounded, black beetles having the elytra margined 

 or spotted with paler, often both. Distinguished from Brachya- 

 cantha by having the outer margin of front tibise unarmed. Bight 

 species and one variety are known from Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF HYPERASPIS. 



a. Side margins of elytra with a reddish or yellow stripe, this rarely 

 broken so as to form a subapical spot. 

 b. Elytra without a second stripe, but often with a red or yellow spot 

 on side of disk. 



c. Discal spot of elytra, if present, connected with marginal band. 

 d. Stripe on side of elytra expanding into a large rounded discal 

 spot a little behind the middle. 996. bolteri. 



dd. Stripe only feebly undulating on the inner margin, its hind por- 

 tion often separated as a distinct oval subapical spot. 



997. FIMBRIOLATA. 



cc. Discal spot of elytra distinct from marginal band, the latter some- 

 times broken into separate spots ; side margins of thorax yellow 

 in both sexes. 998. undulata. 



l)~b. Elytra with a second yellow stripe on side of disk. 999. 4-vittata. 

 aa. Side margins of elytra without a reddish or yellowish stripe. 



e. Elytra black with one or two rounded red or yellowish subapical 

 spots and usually with a large discal spot. 

 f. Side margins of elytra without a spot ; legs in part or wholly black. 

 g. Subapical spot single. 



h. Larger discal spot present, subapical small ; sides and apical 

 margin of thorax yellow in male. 1000. signata. 



hh. Discal spot absent, subapical larger; sides of thorax with a 

 large rounded orange spot. 1001. bigeminata. 



gg. Subapical spots two, discal spot present; sides of thorax yellow 

 in both sexes. 1000b. var. proba. 



ff. Side margins of elytra with a spot opposite the discal spot ; legs 

 yellow. 1002. pratensis. 



( r. Elytra black without subapical spots but with a large round spot near 

 the center of disk ; thorax as in signata. 1000a. var. binotata. 



