640 



FAMILY XXVI. NITIDULJDiE . 



April 22-June 19. Taken from beneath dead leaves by sifting; 

 also beneath bark of beech. Described from Michigan and Canada.' 

 Resembles helvola but readily distinguished by the smaller size and 

 rounded tips of elytra. 



E. peltoides Horn, 2.5 mm. in length, was described from Michi- 

 gan and Maryland. 



1229 ( 3714). Epuk^a labilis Erichs., Germ. Zeitschr., IV, 1843, 272. 

 Oval. Dull reddish-yellow, rather shining, sparsely pubescent. Tho- 

 rax twice as wide as long ; sides regularly curved and gradually narrowing 

 from base to apex, which is feebly emarginate; margin narrowly reflexed, 

 hind angles rectangular ; surface, as well as that of elytra, coarsely and 

 rather densely punctured. Elytra one-third longer than wide, tips trun- 

 cate, sides feebly recurved and slightly narrowing behind the middle. Length 

 2-2. h mm. 



Throughout the State • frequent. May 16-August 29. Resem- 

 bles ericksonii, but smaller and the males distinguished by charac- 

 ters given in key. Occurs on flowers of elder, dogwood, etc. 



VII. NittduijA Fab. 1775. (L., " shining or bright.") 



The members of this genus are known as "bone beetles" and 

 are distinguished from Epurwa by their larger size and by the 

 labrum being feebly emarginate instead of bilobed. They have 

 the antennas 11-jo.inted, the club abrupt and 3-jointed; abdominal 

 segments 2 to 5 equal, the first very little longer. Three species 

 occur in the United States, all of which are found in Indiana. 

 The first two have been introduced from Europe. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF NITIDULA. 



a. Thorax coarsely and rather densely punctured. 



6. Piceous ; elytra each with a rounded reddish spot on disk. 



1230. BIPUNCTATA. 



66. Piceous ; elytra without spots. 1231. kufipes. 



aa. Thorax sparsely and rather finely punctured ; elytra usually with irregu- 

 lar dull yellow spots. 1232. ziczac. 



1230 (3719). Nitidula bipunctata Linn., Fauna Suec, 1758, 148. 



Oval, feebly convex. Piceous black, finely pubes- 

 cent: each elytron with a round reddish spot near the 

 middle. Thorax twice as wide at base as long, nar- 

 rower at apex; margins moderately flattened, hind 

 angles nearly rectangular. Elytra together longer than 

 wide, rather sparsely and finely punctured. Length 

 4.5-6 mm. (Fig. 241.) 



Vigo, Lawrence and Knox counties ; scarce. 

 April 15- July 11. Occurs on or beneath bones 

 Fig. 24i. x5. and skins of dry carcasses, and probably to be 



(After Smith.) througllout t h e State. 



