THE STAG BEETLES. 



907 



bles with a large median tooth which points obliquely inward and upward. 

 Elytra deeply striate, both striae and intervals finely and rather closely 

 punctured. Length 15-26 mm. 



Throughout the State; frequent, April 27-December 8. Hi- 

 bernates beneath old, partly burned logs. Occurs most commonly 

 in June and July about the roots of oak, linn and maple trees and 

 stumps, in the decaying wood of which the larvae bore. The word 

 Dorcus means antelope, and this species is sometimes called the 

 " antelope beetle." 



III. Platycerus Geoff. 1764. (Gr, " broad + antennas.") 

 Small oblong beetles having the eyes nearly entire instead of 

 being notched in front by the sharp side margin of the head; sixth 

 ventral segment visible; front tibiae armed on the outer side with 

 numerous fine, saw-like teeth. The mandibles of the males incline 

 upward and are larger than those of the females. 



1719 (5416). Platycerus quercus Web., Obs. Ent, 1801, 85. 



Oblong, subdepressed. Blackish or dark reddish- 

 brown, often tinged with brassy or greenish, shining. 

 Mandibles of male as long as head and about 6-toothed 

 at tip ; of female, much shorter. Thorax one-half wider 

 than long, sides rounded, hind angles obtuse; surface 

 sparsely punctured, male; more densely and coarsely, 

 female. Elytra with three or four subobsolete strise 

 next to suture, deeply and rather sparsely punctured. 

 Length 10-12 mm. (Fig. 357.) 



Throughout the State; common. March 25- 



& Fig; Line snows 



October 29. Occurs beneath bark and logs, es- natural size, 

 pecially those of oak. Begins to emerge as imago the latter part of 

 March. Mates about May 1st. 



IV. Ceruchus McLeay. 1819. (Gr., "bearing a horn.") 

 Larger and more convex than Platycerus, with antennae straight; 

 body subcylindrical and front coxae contiguous. The head of the 

 male is much broader and longer than that of female, and bears a 

 deep frontal excavation. 



1720 (5422). Ceruchus piceus Web., Obs. Entom., 1801, 84. 



Subcylindrical, convex, highly polished. Piceous or dark reddish-brown. 

 Male with mandibles as long as head and with a very large median tooth 

 on inner side; head deeply striate on the sides; thorax and elytra finely 

 and rather sparsely punctate. Female with mandibles half the length of 

 head, with three or four blunt teeth on inner side: thorax and elytra more 

 coarsely and densely punctured. Elytra shallowly striate in both sexes, 

 the stria3 subobsolete on the sides. Length 10-15 mm, 



