6G STAPHYLiNiDiE. \_Homaluta. 



Dr. Sharp, divided off those species that have the intermediate coxae 

 separated by a plain interval ; these form the genera Nototlieda, 

 Thamiarxa, and Alianfa, Avhicli have already been noticed. Gnypeta 

 (H. labilis and coerulea) and Bvachida (H. 7iofha) have for some time 

 been considered as distinct ; to the description of each of the species of 

 Homalota given below are added the names of the genera adopted by 

 Thomson and Mulsant and Eey, in order that any student of the group 

 may at once be able to refer to them in case he feels inclined to do so. 



The Homalotce are distinguished from most of the closely allied genera by 

 the shorter first joint of the posterior tarsi, which is in most cases about 

 equal to, or only slightly longer than the second, and, as an almost 

 invariable rule, is shorter than the second and third together ; in fact 

 there appear to be only two exceptions, H. gregaria, in which the first 

 joint is about equal to the second and third together, and H. pygmcea, 

 in which it is equal to or even longer than these joints. In the former 

 species, also, the ligula is entire instead of being bifid, and this character 

 together with the structure of the tarsi seems quite sufficient to warrant 

 the establishment of a separate genus for the insect: I would therefore 

 propose for it the name of Glossola provisionally, the genus Disopora 

 under which it is placed by Mulsant and Rey including several other 

 species that are very different ; as, however, H. pygmcea presents the same 

 peculiarity of the tarsi, and the question does not seem capable of being 

 thoroughly settled in the present state of our knowledge of the genus, it 

 seems the best course to place H. gregaria after the sub-genus Bisopora, 

 but in no particular group or section. 



Students of the group will probably find a difficulty in the fact 

 (Avhich has been noticed in the introduction) that the penultimate and 

 anal segments of the hind body are spoken of by Mulsant and Rey as the 

 fifth and sixth segments, and by Dr. Sharp as tlie sixth and seventh 

 segments respectively ; as a matter of fact there is truly an additional 

 and more or less concealed segment at the base of the hind body, as 

 demonstrated by Kraatz, and, accordingly as this is reckoned or not, the 

 number of segments will of course appear different ; in the succeeding 

 descriptions the anal segment is counted as the seventh. 



The species of Homalota are found in various localities, in hot-beds, 

 dung-heaps, under moss in woods, in fungi, under sea- weed on the 

 shore, in dead birds and animals, at roots of grass, at sap, &c. ; one or two 

 species, besides those now included in the genus Notothecta, are found in 

 ants' nests, and a few occur only under the bark of trees ; a large 

 number may bo obtained by sweeping herbage in damp localities, 

 especially about sunset on summer evenings. 



The larva of //. celata is described by Pen is, Anu. Fr. 1853, p. 561, PI. 17, Fig. 9-15, 

 as exceedingly like tbat of Phloeopora rejnians, bvit differing in baving the eighth 

 segment of abdomen cpiadrate and not prolonged over the ninth, and by the longer 

 anal appendage, and longer cerci, of wliicb the first joint is equal in length to the 

 anal appendage, and the second joint very much shorter than the first. 



