166 BKACH ELYTRA — ALEOCHARIDAE. 



II, Thorax entirely black. 



1, Elytra yellow-red, with a dark triangular patch 

 at sciitellum and at outer posterior angles. 



Similar to M. jndla, but more parallel-sided, the elytra as 

 above. Common. M. nidicola, Fairm. 



2. Elytra black, with suture red-brown. 



Black, rather shiny, with close, short, yellowish pubes- 

 cence ; suture of elytra and margin of ventral abdominal 

 segments red-brown ; base and apex of antennae and the 

 legs red. Punctuation of head rather diffuse, deep ; that 

 of tliorax moderately close, rather coarse, shalhnv ; that of 

 elytra not closer but deeper and more distinct than on 

 thorax ; and that of abdomen rather strong, close in front, 

 rather more diffuse behind. Scarce. 3f. pull a, GyU. 



b. Abdomen more closely punctured ; length If lines. 



Black, shiny, with very fine pubescence ; elytra often 

 red-brown behind ; antennae and legs red-brown, former 

 rather lighter at base and apex. Punctuation of head and 

 thorax moderately close, distinct ; elytra scarcely longer 

 than thorax, as closely but more strongly punctured ; ab- 

 domen distinctly punctured, very closely in front, rather 

 more diffusely behind. Not common, if. gentilis, Mark. 



Aleochara. 



A, Abdomen of male with prominences on upper-side. 



Kust-brown ; middle of thorax and base of intermediate 

 abdominal segments often darker ; antennae and legs red- 

 brown. Antennae slender ; elytra rather longer than 

 thorax. Male with a transverse, narrow plate on the 

 second abdominal segment, a round prominence on the 

 middle of the third and an almost crescent-shaped eleva- 

 tion on the sixth. L. 2f — 3 1. Pare. A. ruficornis, G^v. 



S. Abdomen of male without prominences. 



(I, Length exceeding 1^ lines. 



I, Thorax evenly punctured. 



1. Antennae strongly spindle-shaped, middle joints 

 more than double as broad as long ; length 2 J — 3 

 lines. 

 A A, Elytra dark red-brown, margins blackish. 



