Momalota.'] staphylinidj:. 125 



lighter; it strongly resembles //. 7iigra, from which it differs by its 

 slij^htly smaller size, more transverse thorax, less narrowed hind body, 

 and especially by having segments 5-6 more sparingly punctured than 

 in that species ; from //. serirea and its allies it may be distinguished by 

 its more densely punctured hind body ; it is also closely related to 

 H. sordidula, but that species is smaller, narrower, more flat and 

 depressed, with longer terminal joint of antennae, and has the apical 

 segnif^nts of hind body more thickly punctured ; the head is broad, 

 sometimes with an obscure impression on disc ; antennae rather stout, 

 blackish, obscurely pah-r at base, second joint longer than third, fourth 

 nearly as long as broad, fifth broader than fourth, 6-10 slightly trans- 

 verse, eleventh quite as long as the two preceding together; thorax 

 about half as broad again as long, nearly as broad in front as behind, 

 more or less distinctly channelled ; elytra longer than thorax, usually 

 brownish or fuscous brown ; hind body moderately shining, segments 

 2-4 closely and distinctly punctured, 5-6 more sparingly punctured ; 

 legs yellowish or yellow. L. U mm. 



Male with hind margin of upper plate of seventh segment of hind 

 body furnished with four small teeth, one at each angle and two in 

 middle, the outer ones more distinct, the inner ones separated by a rather 

 broad and very shallow emargination. 



In decaying fungi, and at sap of felled trees, also among dead leaves, &c. ; it also 

 ^cnrs in small carcases. The larva, according to Pen-is, lives in the galleries of 

 Sr/lurffus piniperda, and attacks their young larvae, and also those of th« small 

 PoduridcB which swarm in such localities ; the species is rare in Britain : Weybrid'j-e 

 Esher, Dareuth Wood, Hampstead, Gomshall, Ashtead Common ; it has not been 

 found, apparently, except in the London district. 



_H. sordidula, Er. (Atheta sordidula, Thorns., Mkrodota (Bato- 

 micra) sordidula, Muls. et Key). A small narrow species with hind 

 body rather distinctly pointed, and with the last joint of the antennae 

 elongate, longer than the two preceding, characters which, besides its 

 smaller size, distinguish it from H. nigra ; the head is small with the 

 sides a little straight behind eyes, generally indistinctly impressed in 

 front ; the thorax is about one-third broader than long, finely and closely 

 punctured, with a fine, but dietinct longitudinal channel in front of 

 scutellum ; the elytra are about as long proportionately to thorax as in 

 H. celata, and so shorter than in any of the other three, closely and 

 finely punctured ; hind body distinctly narrowed to apex, upper surface 

 closely finely and evenly punctured, and thickly pubescent ; legs pitchy 

 yellow. L. 1| mm. 



Sexual differences obscure. 



In dung, dung-heaps, hotbeds, dead leaves, &c. ; common over almost the whole of 

 France, but either very local or overlooked in Britain ; London district, not unoom- 

 mon, Darenth Wood, Hampstead, Lee, Chatham, Sheerness, Esher, Eeigate, Caterham. 

 Walton-on-Thames, Wimbledon, Eltham, Diigenham, Loughton ; Tonbridge • New 

 Forest ; Weymouth ; Exeter ; Yardley and Knowle, near Birmingham : Manchester • 

 Northumberland district ; Sweethope (Power); Scotland, Solway district only 



