968 



"FAMILY L. SCARABVEILVE. 



L. diffinis Blanch., dark reddish-brown, length 15 mm., is a 

 southern species which has been taken near Cincinnati. 



1817 (10,237). Lachnostekna vehemens Horn, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, 

 XIV, 1887, 244. 



Oblong-oval, moderately robust. Piceous or dark reddish-brown, strongly 

 shining. Clypeus very slightly emarginate, somewhat concave, its surface 

 rather finely, not closely punctate. Thorax narrowed toward base, its sides 

 behind middle nearly straight, curved in front ; margin entire with short 

 ciliae; disk relatively finely and sparsely punctured. Elytral punctures in- 

 distinct except at base and sides, rugulose at middle ; submarginal costa 

 well developed. Male with antennal club shorter than stem ; fifth segment 

 with a curved ridge overhanging or projecting in the manner of a ledge, 

 except at middle ; last segment broadly and transversely impressed, its apex 

 broadly emarginate ; hind femora broadly angulate at middle. Length 21.5- 

 23 mm. (PI. Ill, fig. 394.) 



Vigo and Knox counties ; scarce. April 16-May 1. Specimens 

 which had just emerged were taken on the two dates named. It 

 occurs more commonly in damp localities and is one of our largest 

 species. 



ISIS (5757). Lachnostekna eusca Froh., Naturforscher, 1792, 99. 



Oblong, robust. Light to dark chestnut brown or piceous, shining. Cly- 

 peus slightly emarginate, its surface rather finely and closely punctate; 

 front a little more coarsely and less closely punctate. Thorax always 

 widest at base, usually feebly curved from middle to apex; margin entire, 

 with short cilia? ; surface never very closely or coarsely punctate, usually 

 with a smooth median line. Elytra more closely punctate than thorax, the 

 submarginal costa distinct on basal half. Metasternum densely punctured, 

 the hair long and dense. Male with antennal club as long as or slightly 

 longer than stem ; abdomen flattened at middle, the fifth segment as de- 

 scribed in key; last ventral feebly concave. Pubic process of female a 

 single cylindrical rod, terminating in an obtuse point. Length 17.5-21 mm. 

 (PI. Ill, fig. 391 ; pi. IV, fig. 398.) 



Throughout the State; common. March 25-June 19. Our most 

 abundant and injurious member of the genus, occurring by thou- 

 sands at electric lights during its season. As usually known, and 

 as described by Horn, several species were confused which were 

 afterward separated by John B. Smith in the papers, loc. cit. All 

 of these have the thorax rather finely and sparsely punctate. The 

 form fusca is^generally smaller than these species, except arcuata, 

 and in the male the ventral ridge is lower in the middle than on 

 either side. The female is readily distinguished from its allies by 

 not having the last ventral segment emarginate. 



