THE FIREFLIES OR LIGHTNING BUGS. 



831 



Throughout the State; frequent. June 3-June 27. One spe- 

 cies with thorax wholly pale is referred to var. flavicollis Lec. ; this 

 being a variety of modestus and not of basilaris, as the form of the 

 thorax and relative length of antenna! joints plainly show. 



1579 (4889). Podabrus tomentosus Say, Journ. 



Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., V, 1825, 



165 ; ibid. II, 275. 

 Elongate, slender, parallel. Head, thorax, two 

 basal joints of antennae, abdominal margin and fe- 

 mora reddish-yellow; remainder of antenna?, tibise 

 and tarsi dusky; elytra black with fine grayish pu- 

 bescence. Thorax quadrate ; disk finely and sparse- 

 ly punctate, with distinct median line. Length 9- 

 12 mm. (Fig. 324.) 



Throughout the State ; common. May 21- 

 October 15. Occurs most abundantly on the 

 greater ragweed, Ambrosia irifida L., along "(Original.) 4 



the borders of streams; also noted at electric light. 



1580 (4890). Podabrus protensus Lec, New Sp. N. Am. Col., 1866, 91. 

 Elongate, slender. Blackish; front of head, thorax, legs, basal fifth 



and outer margin of elytra as far as middle, reddish-yellow. Thorax slightly 

 longer than wide, sides feebly curved ; disk very finely and sparsely punc- 

 tate; dorsal line deep. Second and third joints of antennae nearly equal 

 and together longer than fourth. Length 11-14 mm. 



Clark. Jefferson and Perry counties; scarce. May 21-June 17. 

 In some specimens, var. fayi Lec, the elytra are wholly dull yellow. 



1581 (4891). Podabrus brunnicollis Fab., Syst. Eleut, I, 1901, 298. 

 Resembles the preceding but more slender. Front of head, sides of 



thorax, margins of elytra, legs and base of antenna? yellow. Back of head 

 and disk of thorax coarsely punctured. Thorax longer than wide, the sides 

 parallel, not rounded. Length 7-10 mm. 



Orange County: scarce. May 28 -June 2. Beaten from foliage 

 of oak, hickory and wild grape. 



XIX Silis Latr. 1829. (Or., "pug-nosed.") 



Small oblong species having the thorax broader than long and, 

 m the male, notched near the hind angles and bearing two processes 

 on each side near the base. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF SILIS. 



a. Base of thorax lobed, deeply foveate inside of hind angles ; notch near 

 the base deep, the appendage behind notch long, compressed and 

 rounded at tip. 1582. percomis. 



[53—23402] 



