THE SOFT-BODIED PLANT BEETLES. 



693 



surface finely and sparsely punctate. Elytra not wider at base than tho- 

 rax, gradually broader to apical third, surface sparsely punctate. Length 

 3-5 mm. 



Vigo County; rare. June 19. Beaten from foliage in low 

 ground. 



Dicranopselaphus variegahis Horn, broadly oval, brownish, tho- 

 rax darker, elytra clouded, length 3 mm., is recorded from Illinois. 



V. Prionocyphon Redt, 1S58. ( Gr., ' 4 a saw + bent, ' ' ) 



Head de/flexed; antennas slender, longer than half the body. 

 Prosternum very short in front of coxae, prolonged in a slender plate 

 between them; hind coxae suddenly dilated into an oval plate on 

 inner side ; tarsal claws simple. 



1314 (3998). Pbionocyphon discoideus Say. Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 

 V, 1825, 161 ; ibid. II, 272. 

 Oval, slightly oblong, moderately convex. Yellow ; elytra with a large 

 disCal black spot of variable size, sometimes covering three-fourths of the 

 surface. Antenme yellow, those of the males bipectinate, joints 4 to 10, 

 each being furnished with a cylindrical appendage on each side at base, 

 this longer than the joint itself (Fig. 3, No. 3). Thorax short, transverse, 

 very little narrowed in front, base Insinuate, surface sparsely punctulate. 

 Elytra coarsely and rather densely punctate. Length 3.5-4.5 mm. 



Orange, Perry and Posey counties; rare. May 12- June 1. 

 Taken by beating foliage, and at electric light. 



Microcara explanata Lee, elongate- oval, brownish-yellow, length 

 5-5.5 mm., is known from Canada and Michigan. 



VI. HELODEsPayk. 1798. (Gr., "marshy.") 



Head deflexed, usually concealed from above by the prolonged 

 thorax ; antennae slender, first joint oval, second round, scarcely half 

 the size of first ; third minute, fourth as long as the preceding three ; 

 5 to 11 equal, a little shorter than the fourth. Prosternum not pro- 

 longed between the coxa?, which are prominent and contiguous ; sec- 

 ond joint of tarsi with two dentiform projections which nearly con- 

 ceal the small third joint; claws simple. Two species have been 

 taken in Indiana, while another perhaps occurs. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF HELODES. 



a. Form oval, longer than broad. 



b. Elytra yellow with two black spots on each. 1315. pulchella. 



N). Elytra entirely black. fuscipennis. 

 aa. Broadly ovate, nearly as broad as long; elytra entirely black. 



1316. THORACICA. 



