770 



FAMILY XXXVII. ELATERIDJE. 



male; subquadrate, more convex, sides more distinctly curved, female; disk 

 rather finely punctured, more densely and coarsely on sides; median im- 

 pressed line distinct on basal half. Elytral striae finely punctured ; intervals 

 subconvex, rather sparsely punctulate. Length 11-14 mm. 



Lake County; scarce. July 1-July 11. Horn placed this as a 



depauperate form of memnonhis, but the latter always has the third 



and fourth joints of antennas equal. Blan chard, who has given 



much study to the Elateridse, considers the two distinct. 



*1468 (4510). Asaphes memnonius Hbst. Kafer, X, 1806, 29. 



Elongate, robust. Piceous to pale brown, sparsely pubescent ; legs paler. 

 Thorax as long as broad, sides nearly straight, less convex, male; broader 

 than long, strongly convex, sides moderately curved, female; disk densely 

 and coarsely punctate ; hind angles with carina parallel with the margin. 

 Elytral stria? moderately deeply impressed with coarse shallow punctures; 

 intervals subconvex, rather densely punctulate. Length 15-22 mm. 



Throughout the State, frequent; less 

 so in the southern counties. June 8-De- 

 cember 27. Occurs beneath stones and 

 rubbish in dry localities. Taken in win- 

 ter from beneath the bark of red oak 

 logs. 



A. decolor a his Say, piceous, black, 

 often feebly bronzed, legs paler, length 

 9-15 mm., is said to occur in the "At- 

 lantic region as far west as Missouri." 

 (Fig. 291.) 



1469 (4511). Asaphus bilobatus Say, Trans. 



Amer. Phil. Soc, VI, 1836, 



Fig. 291. X 4- Asaphes decoloratus Say. ' 



(After Forbes.) Elongate, rather slender. Dark chestnut 



to paler brown, shining ; finely and very sparsely pubescent ; antennae and 

 legs paler. Thorax of male longer than wide, sides straight, convergent in 

 front; of female, nearly square, sides more or less curved, rarely slightly 

 sinuate behind the middle; disk in both sexes moderately convex, finely 

 and rather sparsely punctate; hind angles obtuse, not carinate. Elytra 

 striate, the striae coarsely punctured ; those nearest the suture much less 

 deep in female; intervals subconvex, each with two rows of fine punctures. 

 Length 13-16 mm. 



Laporte and Posey counties ; rare. Jnne 25-August 20. 



XLIII. Melanactes Lee, 1853. (Gr.. " black + shining.") 



Large, smooth, shining black beetles, distinguished from allied 

 genera by having the sides of the mesosternal cavity raised and 

 swollen so as to be "protuberant, and the tarsal joints furnished be- 



