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115. Genus Omallum Jravh. 



(3ravh. Micr. Ill; Erichs. Ka'f. Mk. Br. I, 628; Sen. Spec. Staph. 

 874; Kraatz Ins. D. II, 974; Thorns. Skand. Col. Ill, 211; Pey Bre'vip. 

 1880, 189; langlb. Ka'f. M. II, 733). 



The body is rather flat, broadest across the elytra, almost naked; 

 the head narrower than pronotum, posteriorly neck-formed constricted 

 with rounded off temples and rather large, protruding eyes, distinct 

 ocelli on the vertex, two foveae or sharp, linear impressions before 

 these, and two flatter ones anteriorly, antennae smoothly thickened dis- 

 tally, distal joint of maxillary palpi two-three times as long as the 

 next-last and as thick as this, obtusely tapering. 



Pronotum is narrower than elytra, broader than long, at middle with 

 two, most often deep longitudinal impressions; elytra much longer than 

 pronotum, not broadened posteriorly; abdomen with broad, upturned side- 

 margins, and is posteriorly roundly tapering; mesothorax is finely cari- 

 nated in middle-line; the legs rather short, tibiae, especially the mid- 

 dle ones, finely spiniferous, hind tarsi half as long as tibiae, their 

 claw-joint a little longer than the first four joints together. 



The species live under leaves, in alluvium and waste, under rotting 

 plants, in fungi, at outflowing tree-sap and the like. About twenty spe- 

 cies are found in Middle and North Europe, in our country heretofore on- 

 ly six, but a few others from North Europe have been included in the fol- 

 lowing. 



The widely extensive old genus Omalium , as treated by Kraatz (Ins. D. 

 II, 974), is by Thomson and after him other authors (also here) divided 



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