THE HISTER BEETLES. 



til 1 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF THE SUBGENUS PHELISTER. 



a. Thorax with distinct submarginal stria; elytra with live entire dorsal 

 stride. 1163. subrotundus. 



a a. Thorax with no submarginal stria ; elytra with four entire dorsal striae. 



1164. VERNUS. 



*1163 (3515). Hister subrotundus Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 

 1825, 39 ; ibid. II, 265. 

 Broadly rounded-oval, convex. Dark reddish-brown to blackish, shin- 

 ing ; antennae and legs reddish-brown. Thorax finely punctulate on the 

 disk, more coarsely on the sides; the stria distinct but very close to mar- 

 gin. Sutural stria of elytra extending in front of middle. Pygidium 

 sparsely and minutely punctulate. Front tibia? with a number of fine teeth. 

 Length 2-2.5 mm. 



Throughout the State ; common beneath bark and often in fungi 

 on oak stumps and logs. Hibernates. March 12-December 10. 



*1164 (3516). Hister vernus Say, loc. cit, 40 ; ibid. II, 266. 



Oblong-oval, convex. Black, shining ; antennae and legs reddish-brown. 

 Disk of thorax sparsely and finely, the sides much more coarsely, punctate; 

 marginal stria absent. Elytra with four entire dorsal striae, the fifth and 

 sutural extending from apex to middle. Front tarsi with eight or nine 

 teeth, the apical three larger, subequal. Length 2.5 mm. 



Southern half of State; frequent. Hibernates. Occurs most 

 commonly beneath logs and bark, in low, moist, sandy places. J anu- 

 ary 6-October 9. 



Subgenus III. ( Platysoma. ) 



Small oval, oblong or cylindrical, often much depressed species, 

 having the front tibiae with a deep, sinuate tarsal groove; thorax 

 without inner marginal striae; middle and hind tibiae armed with 

 two to four teeth or short spines ; front tibiae without a tooth on the 

 inner side near the base ; presternum without striae. Six species of 

 the subgenus have been taken in Indiana, while another may occur. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF SUBGENUS PLATYSOMA. 



a. Body broad, not twice as long as wide, more or less depressed ; elytra 

 with not more than three entire dorsal striae. 

 b. Sutural stria well marked ; front tibia? with five teeth. 



1165. CAROLINUS. 



/>/>. Sutural stria either obsolete or wholly absent ; front tibiae with four 

 teeth. 



c. Sides of thorax punctured. 1166. lecontei. 



gc. Sides of thorax smooth. 1167. aurelianus. 



aa. Body elongate, always as long or longer than twice the width, either 

 cylindrical or depressed; elytra with more than three entire dorsal 

 striae. 



