902 A REVISION OF THE STAPHYLINID.E OF AUSTRALIA, 



27. Tachinus. 



Gravenhorst, Col. Micr. p. 135 (1802); Lacordaire, Gen. Col. II., 

 p. 55. 



Mentum transverse, truncate in front. Ligula similar to that 

 of Tachyporus, but the lobes more divided. Paraglos.sae about as 

 long as ligula. Maxillary palpi filiform, moderately long, 2nd 

 joint a little longer than the 3rd, the 4th slightly longer than the 

 3rd, acuminate. Labial palpi filiform, 3-jointed, the second joint 

 shorter than the two others. Mandibles, head and antennae like 

 those of Tachyporus. Antennae filiform, sligh tly thickened towards 

 the extremity, terminal joint ovate. Prothorax transverse, nar- 

 rowed in front, truncate or strongly bi-sinuate at the base, 

 emarginate in front, posterior angles sometimes projecting 

 behind, the anterior angles slightly acute. Elytra longer than 

 the prothorax. Scutellum rounded. Abdomen margined, with 

 the 2nd ventral segment raised in middle. Legs rather short ; 

 tibipe armed with small spines; tarsi 5:5:5, moderately long, the 

 first four joints gradually decreasing in length. 



Anterior tarsi sometimes simple in both sexes, sometimes dilated 

 in the male. Penultimate segment of the abdomen in some 

 species quadrifid above, and cleft below, in the male, quadrifid 

 above and below in the female ; in other species the segment is 

 quadri-dentate above, and deeply emarginate below, in the male, 

 and presenting three or four divisions above, and six below, in 

 the female. 



109. Tachinus marginellus. 



Staphylinus marginellas, Fabricius, Spec. Ins. I., p. 337 — 

 Tachinus marginellus, Erichson, Gen. Staph, p. 263 (1840) ; Kraatz, 

 Nat. Ins. p. 412. 



Oblong, narrowed both in front and behind, moderately convex, 

 dark piceous, shining; prothorax narrowly margined with testaceous; 

 a narrow streak along the outer margin of each elytron and the 

 posterior margin also testaceous ; legs and base of antennae reddish 

 testaceous. 



