THE METALLIC WOOD-BORING BEETLES. 



807 



Starke, Pulaski and Marshall counties; rare. June 11-June 19. 

 Beaten from foliage of oak. 



XVI. Pachysoelus Sol. 1833. (Gr., " thick + leg.") 



This genus is distinguished from Brachys by the characters given 

 in generic key. Of the four species known from the United States, 

 two have been taken in Indiana. 



1534 (4764). Pachysceltjs ptjbpubeus Say, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, VI, 



1836, 364; ibid. II, 599. 



Orate or triangular, subconvex. Head and thorax black, shining; ely- 

 tra purple. Thorax more than twice as wide as long, sides broadly curved, 

 disk without depressions; surface with a number of large shallow dis- 

 coidal punctures, more numerous near hind angles. Elytra each indented 

 at middle of base and behind the humerus; surface with rows of large, 

 feebly impressed punctures, which become obsolete towards the tips. Ab- 

 domen with a deep marginal groove ; last segment rounded, not serrate on 

 edge. Length 3.5 mm. 



Lake. Marshall and Starke counties ; rare. June 11- July 4. De- 

 scribed from Posey County. Beaten from vegetation in marshy 

 places. The larvae live in the leaves of the bush clover (Lespedeza). 



1535 (4766). Pachysceltjs LuEVigattjs Say. Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist.. I, 1825, 



252 ; ibid. I, 3SS ; II, 598. 

 Broadly ovate. Black, shining. Thorax twice as wide as long; sides 

 less curved: disk with a depression each side, punctured as in purpureas. 

 Elytra with sides more rounded, less attenuate behind the middle ; surface 

 irregularly and shallowly punctate. Length 2.5-3 mm. 



Throughout the State: common. June 2-August 11. Mating 

 June 11. Occurs on the foliage of the black gum and the flowers 

 of black haw. milk- weed, etc. 



Family XL. LAMPYRIDiE. 



The Fireflies or Lightning Bugs. 



The firefly in June-time doth glow at eventide. In central Indi- 

 ana, during the dusk of the last days of May or first week in June, 

 the signal lamps of these curiously formed beetles begin to appear. 

 A fortnight later they are here by myriads, illumining by their 

 flashes of light the gloom that overhangs low. moist meadows and the 

 darker spots along the banks of streams and ponds or the borders of 

 woodlands. Silently and slowly they wing their way. lighting their 

 signals every few seconds in order to attract unto themselves another 

 of their kind, or as an incitement to rivalry amongst the males when 

 both sexes are winged. 



