928 



FAMILY L. SCARAB 'FJDJE. 



In using the following table the student must, at all times, be 

 careful that the specimens are perfect; that is, that the spinules at 

 the tips of the tibia? are not Avorn or accidentally reduced to an equal 

 size, or that the long hairs fringing the sides of the tibia? do not, by 

 crossing the field of vision, deceive into the belief that the spinules 

 are unequal. In those that are pubescent, various accidental causes 

 may have removed the hairs. In old specimens of those species in 

 which the clypeus is denticulate, the teeth are apt to be worn down, 

 as also the spurs of the tibia? and the large teeth of the front tibia?. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF APHODIUS. 



a. Scutellum long, one-fourth or one-fifth the length of the elytral suture; 

 front tibia? not serrate above the upper tooth. 1750. hamatus. 



aa. Scutellum short, not more than one-eighth to one-tenth the length of 

 suture. 



h. Apex of hind tibia? fringed with short, equal spinules ; head with 

 three small tubercles on the vertex. 

 c. Thorax with distinct basal marginal line. 

 d. Mesosternum not carinate between the coxa?. 



c. Elytra clear red; thorax dissimilar in the sexes, impressed in 

 front in the male. 1751. fimetarius. 



ee. Elytra piceous or dull red ; thorax similar in the sexes. 



/. Color wholly piceous black, front angles of thorax never 

 paler ; first joint of hind tarsus very little longer than the 

 next two ; form small, robust. 1752. ruricoia. 



ff. Front angles of thorax paler ; first joint of hind tarsus as 

 long as the next three ; elytra uniform reddish-brown, the 

 first interval narrower than second. fcettdfs. 

 (Id. Mesosternum distinctly carinate. 



g. Color entirely black or piceous; first joint of hind tarsus not 

 longer than the next two; first or sutural interval of elytra 

 as wide or wider than second. 1753. granarius. 



gg. Elytra reddish-brown, the suture and side margins piceous; 

 first joint of hind tarsus equal to next three. 



1754. VITTATUS. 



cc. Thorax without trace of basal marginal line; color dull brownish- 

 yellow, with hind portion of head, Targe spot on thorax and su- 

 tural line of elytra dark brown or piceous. 1755. lividtjs. 

 hi). Apex of hind tibia? fringed with unequal spinules ; head rarely with 

 tubercles. 



h. Elytra opaque; color reddish-brown, head and thorax slightly 

 darker ; size small. 3.5-4 mm. 1750. lentus. 



Jill. Elytra more or less shining. 



i. Thorax not narrower at base than apex, not sinuate at sides 

 near hind angles. 



