THE TUMBLING FLOWER BEETLES. 



separating the genera and species is the m™l >er and form of the 

 small black ridges on the outer face of the In ml tibiae and tarsi 1 he 

 insects should be mounted with the hind legs straightened out and 

 plainly visible, else their identification is impossible. 



KEY TO INDIANA GENERA OE MORDELLIUJ5. 



a. Abdomen not prolonged at tip; tarsal claws not cleft; upper surface of 

 bodv very finely and transversely stngose. ,. , , , 



B. Fi'nt and middle tarsi with tfiird and fourth joints eaual^a~ 



rather short, with the last five joints broader. 1 ^ 



U. Front and middle tarsi with the fourth joint very small^ 



aa Abdomen with the last segment prolonged, conical; tarsal claws cleft 

 mid nectinate ; hind femora much enlarged. 

 o Hind ttbte with only a small subapical ridge; eyes finely granu ated 

 "f. Anal styie short, obtuse; scutellum usualiy 



pvps not reaching the occiput. 

 a, Anff^e long ami slender; scutellum trianguiar ; ^reachmg 



cc. mndlibSTnd tarsi with oblige ridges on the outer face; eyes 

 coarsely granulated. „ „ 



e. Hind tibia, with one long ridge and no subap.cal one ^TC, No. 



10^ • Ipnsth 6-8 mm. 

 e. Hind Wuf with subapical ridge distinct and usually on^or m^ 

 ob , i(r „e ones in addition (Fig. 570, Nos. lo ami tTK « less 

 than 6 mm. 



I Pentaria Muls. 1856. (Or., "five + thin.") 

 Our species of this and the next genus are small yellow or yellow 

 and black, finely pubescent forms, Having the ^"J^g 

 than wedge-shaped; hind femora not or but ^^> U ^^ [ ^ 

 dorsal segment not prolonged; eyes oval, narrowly emarginate. 

 Pelria has the sixth ventral segment visible, and is represented in 

 the State by one of the four known species. 



2418 (7761). Pentaria trifasciata Melsh., Pro* Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci.. II. 

 1845, 316. 



Elongate, subdepressed. Head, thorax, legs and ^ofa^« 

 rcblish vellow elytra yellow, with base, tips and a broad band just behmcl 

 ttf mldfile! Mac I, abdomen, and sometimes the entire under surface, fus- 

 cous. Length 3-4 mm. 



Throughout the State, frequent; more so in the southern coun- 

 fips Tune 4-July 30. Occurs on flowers, especially those ot the 

 djwood (Uorlll wild hydrangea and black haw The thorax is 

 sometimes marked with fuscous and the bands of elytra are rareh 

 connected along the suture. 



