(Page 106) 



The ^enus Homalota , according to the conception of Kraatz et al., in- 

 cludes at least 200 Middle and North European species, of v^hich about 140 

 are found in this country. The attempts made by diverse authors (Thomson, 

 Mulsart et Rey , et al.) to divide this great number into a series of coor- 

 dinate genera (Thorns. 26, Muls. 4C), has not yet found universal favour, 

 or absolute approval. In the following the genus is therefore presented 

 as inclusive as it is described by Kraatz and Sharp, however with the limi- 

 tations which are the result of, that the number of tarsal joints are basic 

 for the division of the Aleocharini . "7hile for instance, as afore said, 

 the fore tarsi of Homalota as a rule are 4- jointed, and middle and hind tar- 

 si £-jointed, there is however three North European, older Homalota species 

 which differ in this, namely Hom. plana iyllh., Hom. cuspidata Sr. , and Horn, 

 notha lir. ; in these both fore- and middle-tarsi are 4-jointed, and only the 

 hind tarsi 5-jointed. They are therefore here separated and transferred to 

 Dolitocharina the third division of Aleocharini , v-here they belong, and where 

 they form the genera Epip^ida Muls. ( H. plana ), Thectura Thorns. ( H. cuspidata ) 

 and Brachida Uuls. ( H. notha ). 



For the purpose of simplifying the aecisions as much as possible, the 

 genus Homalota is divided in the following into a great number of subgenera 

 (agreeing namely with Thomson's and iMulsunt's genera), which again are ar- 

 ranged in five series on account of the differing form of abdomen, the trane- 



(Page 107) 

 versal impression of its first three or four free dorsal joints, size of the 

 eyes, and the finer or coarser structure of the antennae. A few subgenera 

 and species are, for safety's sake, includea in the key, in several places. 



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