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Key to Subgenera and Species. 



1 Slytra as long as, or a little longer than pronotum: 1. Subg. Phytosus 



s. str. - Pronotum and elytra as vjell as the rest of the body 



black. L. 2.5 mm 1. Ph. spinifer 3urt. 



Elytra shorter than pronotum: 2. Subg, Actosus Muls. - Pronotum and 



elytra yellow, head and abdomen occasionally dark 2. 



2. Species small. L. 2-2.5 ram 2. Ph. balticus Kr. 



Species larger. L. 2.5-3 mm 3. Ph. nigriventris Chevr. 



1. Subgenus Phytosus s. str. 



1. Ph. spinifer 3urt. 



(Curtis Brit. Ent. XV, pi. 718; Erichs. den. Spec. Staph. 178 ex parte; 

 Kraatz Ins. D. II, 44; I.Iuls. et Key Brevip. 1871, 294; 5anglb. Kaf. M. II, 287). 



Recognized by the color, and in regard to the following species also 

 by, that it is winged and with a little longer elytra. 



Black; forebody densely gray-haired, dull, abdomen more sparsely hair- 

 ed and feebly glistening; elytra posteriorly and at the suture reddish; 

 antennae, mouth-parts and legs brownish-yellow, femora often darker. 



The body elongate and of equal breadth; head, pronotum and elytra ex- 

 tremely finely and densely punctated, as well as the antennae in detail 

 formed as set forth in the generic description. Pronotum sometimes with 

 feeble medial groove, and elytra as long as, or a little longer than pro- 

 notum, evenly broad. Abdomen equally broad or only indistinctly broadened 

 posteriorly, densely and very finely, yet distinctly punctated. L. 2.5 mm. 



In the o the posterior margin of fifth ventral Joint of abdomen slight- 



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