THE L A MELL [CO RN BEET LES. 



939 



Fig. 367 



hh. Striae of elytra punctured ; head with a median tubercle; basal mar- 

 ginal line of thorax present, 

 c. First joint of hind tarsus shorter than the next three together; 



claws of middle tarsi chelate in the male. 1772. splendidus. 

 cc First joint of hind tarsus equal to the next three; claws of middle 

 tarsi of male not chelate. 1774. blackburnii. 



aa. Body above opaque, black; elytra not striate, but with rows of punc- 



]773. OPACUS. 



tures. 



G. semiopacus J eld., has been taken near Cincinnati. 



*1772 (5596). Geotrupes splendidus Fab., Syst. Ent, 1798, 18. 



Broadly ovate. Color very variable ; brilliant me- 

 tallic green, purple or bronze. Clypeus rounded in 

 front, surface coarsely and roughly punctate and with 

 a distinct median tubercle. Thorax twice as wide as 

 long, surface finely and sparsely punctured, more 

 coarsely and densely on sides. Elytra deeply striate, 

 the stria? with well-defined punctures; intervals 

 smooth, flat or subconvex. Male with middle tarsus 

 short and thick. Length 12-17 mm. (Fig. 367.) 



Throughout the State; common. March 16- 

 December 20. A pair were found mating beneath a log on the 

 latter date. They evidently sometimes feed upon carrion as a pair, 

 also mating, were' taken beneath the bones of a dead horse on May 6. 



1773 (5601). Geotrupes opacus Hald., Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VI, 1853, 



362. 



Broadly oval. Above black, opaque, often with a purplish tinge; un- 

 der surface and legs bluish. Clypeus rounded, rough, with few punctures 

 and with a distinct tubercle near the frontal suture. Thorax with fine, 

 irregularly scattered punctures, more coarse and numerous on the sides. 

 Elytra smooth, not striate, each with about 16 somewhat irregular rows of 

 fine punctures. Length 12-15 mm. 



Lake and Vigo counties; rare. May 19-October 11. Occurs 

 in sanely localities. 



1774 (5602). Geotrupes blackburnii Fab., Spec. Insect., I, 1781, 20. 

 Broadlv oval. Black, feebly bronzed. Clypeus rounded in front, finely 



and densely punctate, with a slight tubercle behind the middle. Thorax 

 with the center of disk nearly smooth, the sides with fine and sparsely 

 placed punctures; a feebly impressed median line on basal half. Elytra 

 deeply striate, the stria? finely punctured. Front tibiae of male with a short 

 spur. Length 13-16 mm. 



Very common m the southern half of the State • much less so in 

 the northern counties. March 11-Oetober 17. Often seen on the 

 wing. The surface is less shining and the color not variable as m 

 splendidus; the average size is also smaller. 



