THE SAP-FEEDING BEETLES. 



641 



1231 (3720). Nitidula rufipes Linn., Syst. Nat, II, 1766, 573. 



Oval, slightly oblong. Piceous, subopaque, pubescent; antennae (ex- 

 cept clubs) and legs reddish-brown. Thorax less than twice as wide as 

 long, apex but little narrower than base; sides moderately curved, margin 

 narrowly flattened; surface, as™ well as that of elytra, densely and rather 

 coarsely punctured. Length 3.5^ mm. 



Lake, Vigo, Crawford, Posey and Lawrence counties; frequent. 

 March 26-August 7. Occurs with preceding on bones of carrion; 

 also on foliage. 



1232 ( 3721). Nitidula ziczac Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 1825, 



179 ; ibid. II, 285. 



Oblong-oval. Piceous, subopaque, pubescent; elytra usually with basal 

 spots and a median S-shaped spot dull yellow. Thorax a little less than 

 twice as wide as long, apex slightly narrower than base ; sides feebly curved, 

 surface rather sparsely and finely punctured. Length 3-4 mm. 



Lake, Lawrence and Posey counties; rare. April 13-August 7. 

 Occurs on dead birds and reptiles. Varies to the elytra wholly de- 

 void of spots. 



VIII. Stelidota Erichs. 1843. (Or., ' <a column.") 



The members of this genus resemble those of Epurcea, but have 

 the elytra subcostate or with rows of punctures and covering the ab- 

 domen, so that, looking from above, no segment of the latter is vis- 

 ible. The antennas end in an abrupt club, and when folded back 

 repose in rather deep, subocular grooves which are parallel. Three 

 species are known, two of which occur in Indiana. 



1233 (3722). Stelidota geminata Say, Joum. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 



1825, 181 ; ibid. II, 287. 

 Oval, narrower behind. Piceous or dark reddish-brown, the margins 

 paler; elytra with two crossbars of indistinct paler spots, one basal, the 

 other behind the middle. Thorax twice as wide as long, broadest at base, 

 apex deeply emarginate; sides regularly curved from base to apex, margin 

 broad, flattened; hind angles rectangular, disk coarsely and densely punc- 

 tured. Elytra as wide at base as thorax, gradually narrowed to apex; 

 tips rounded; disk subcostate, the ridges with a single row of fine punc- 

 tures, each bearing a short hair, the grooves closely punctured. Length 

 2-2.5 mm. 



Throughout the State ; frequent. April 22-September 23. Oc- 

 curs in spring at sap and beneath leaves; in autumn on decaying 

 fruit and melons. 



1234 (3723). Stelidota octomaculata Say, loc. cit. 



Resembles the preceding, but a little larger and darker. The thorax 

 with sides more curved at base, so that the latter is narrower than a little 



