THE SOFT-BODIED PLANT BEETLES. 



605 



the northern half of the State ; taken only in Knox County in the 

 southern portion. June 3.— August 31. 



VIII. Cypkon Payk. 1798. (Gr., "bent or sloping.") 



The species of this genus are distinguished from those of Helodes 

 only by having the third joint of the labial palpi arising from the 

 end instead of the side of the second. Five species are known from 

 the State. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF CYPHON. 



a. Joints 2 and 3 of antenme short, their united length less than that of 

 the fourth. 



I). Form oblong, subparallel ; thorax reddish-yellow, with the center of 

 disk piceous. 1319. ruficollis. 



hi). Form oval, moderately robust ; thorax and elytra uniform piceous. 



1320. OBSCUEUS. 



aa. Joints two and three of antenna? together always longer than the 

 fourth, the third a little longer and more slender than the second. 

 c. Bicolored, thorax reddish-yellow ; elytra piceous or black ; sides of 

 thorax flattened. 1321. collaris. 



cc. Thorax and elytra of the same color, the sides of the former not or 

 very feebly flattened. 

 d. Thorax more densely punctured at the sides than middle ; color 

 usually pale brown. 1322. variabilis. 



dd. Thorax not more densely punctured at the sides ; color piceous, the 

 tips of elytra yellow. 1323. padi. 



1319 (4010). Cyphon -ruficollis Say, Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 1825, 



162; ibid. II, 273. 



Oblong-oval. Piceous, finely pubescent ; thorax reddish with a piceous 

 spot on disk, rarely wholly piceous or wholly yellow ; three basal joints of 

 antennae pale ; the second and third short, together scarcely longer than 

 half the fourth, the third much shorter than second. Thorax nearly three 

 times as wide as long, slightly narrowed in front, base bisinuate ; surface 

 sparsely punctate, more coarsely near the sides. Eiytra slightly wider than 

 thorax, coarsely and rather densely punctured. Length 3.5-4 mm. 



Throughout the State; frequent. April 4-July 6. Taken by 

 beating leaves of shrubs and trees. 



1320 ( 4014). Gyphon obscurus Guer., Spec, et Icon., Ill, 1845, 4. 



Ovate, moderately convex, sparsely pubescent. Black or piceous, shin- 

 ing. Antennae, tibia? and tarsi usually entirely pale, the former sometimes 

 with terminal joints darker. Thorax nearly three times as wide as long, 

 front angles distinct, side margins gradually sloping downward ; surface 

 sparsely punctate. Elytra vaguely tricostate. not very densely punctate. 

 Length 3-3,5 mm. 



Steuben, Kosciusko and Wayne counties ; scarce. May 25-Au- 

 gust 21. Swept from grass in low ground. 



