THE SAP-FEEDING BEETLES. 



643 



Throughout the State ; common. Hibernates. January 1-No- 

 vember 25. Occurs beneath bark and in fungi. 



XL Omosita Erichs. 1843. (Gr., "wild.") 



To this genus belong two small, piceous beetles, distinguished by 

 characters given in generic key. Both occur also in Europe. One 

 of them inhabits Indiana. 



1237 (3727). Omosita colon Linn., Faun. Suec, 151. 



Oblong-oval. Piceous, the margins of thorax dull yellow ; elytra each 

 with three or four small dull yellow spots on basal half, and a large com- 

 mon yellowish space on apical portion enclosing on each side a piceous 

 dot. Thorax nearly twice as broad as long, sides regularly curved, sur- 

 face somewhat rugose and rather coarsely punctate. Length 2-3 mm. 



Throughout the State; common. March 24-October 9. Prob- 

 ably hibernates, According to field notes, it was found on flowers 

 of skunk cabbage in April • beneath bones and skin of dead calf in 

 June and July, and on dry fungi in autumn, so that it may be said 

 to be omnivorous in taste. An introduced European species. 



XII. Sokonia Erichs, 1843. (Gr., "old oak.") 



Five species of this genus are listed from the United States. 

 Our single species resembles Prometopia sexmaculata in form but is 

 smaller, differently colored and the side of the head in front of the 

 eyes bears a distinct lobe. 



*1238 (3730). Soronia undulata Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci„ V, 

 1825, 179 ; ibid. II, 286. 

 Broadly oval, depressed. Under surface and margins above dull yel- 

 low ; disk of thorax piceous with pale spots ; that of elytra piceous with a 

 zigzag band behind the middle and numerous small spots, paler. Thorax 

 more than twice as wide as long at middle, narrower in front, apex deeply 

 emarginate, sides moderately curved, hind angles obtuse; surface rather 

 densely punctured at middle, more sparsely on sides. Elytra slightly wider 

 than base of thorax, the disk a little more coarsely punctured. Length 

 4-5 mm. 



Lake, Marion, Putnam and Vigo counties; scarce. Hibernates. 

 February 25-September 22. Occurs beneath logs in winter, at sap 

 in spring and autumn. 



XIII. Pocadius Erichs. 1843. (Gr., "the hair.") 



This genus belongs to that division of the Nitidulini having the 

 presternum convex between the front cox*e, the tip with a conical 



