(Pa-e 16) 



Pronotum Is posteriorly most often as broad as elytra and narrowing 

 anteriorly with rounded sides and rounded off hind corners; elytra togeth- 

 er broader than long, their posterior margin inside the outer hind-corners 

 only feebly or not dlicurved; not covering entirely the metathoraclc epi- 

 mera, of which the hindmost rounded-off part reaches a little outside of, 

 and are visible at the elytral outer hind corners. This is quite unique 

 for this genus and affords most often a good Identification character. 

 The elytral epipleura are sometimes (subgenus Polystoma and others) of even 

 breadth, only at the tip roundly narrowing, but in most of the species 

 narrowing from middle posteriorly. Abdomen is most often posteriorly 

 tapering, more rarely of even breedtb, Its first three free dorsal joints 

 depressed at base. Mesosternum in many species with a fine carina in 

 middle-line (Fig. £a. subt^. Bar.yodma ) . in others smooth (subg. Aleochara 

 E. str.). The legs are as a whole rather slender than robust, in a few 

 of our species (e. g. spadicea ) especially slender; fore- and middle- 

 tibiae finely spiniferous in outer margin; all tarsi 5-jointed; hind 

 tarsal first Joint longer than the two following joints together. 



Sex-characters occur in several species, but are most often not con- 

 spicuous. Ordinarily they amount to this, that the posterior margin of 

 the sixth free abdominal joint in the o^is sllghtl_ Inourved , finely notch- 

 ed or finely dentate; only in a single one of our species ( ruf icornl s ) 

 are they more singular. 



Fig. Sa. f/.esosternum of Aleochara moesta Jravh. with carina in 

 middle-line. 



Aleochara species are found under leaves, in alluvium, at rotting 



