Lesteva.'] staphtlinidj:. 40 L 



ZiESTEVA, Kraatz. 



The species belonging to this genus are closely allied to those in the 

 preceding genera, but are very easily distinguished by tlie elongate last 

 joint of the maxillary palpi, which is four times as long as the penultimate ; 

 mAntliophagus and G'cocZromcMS the penultimate is only a little, if at all, 

 shorter than the last joint ; the genus comprises about twenty-five species, 

 which are confined to the cold and temperate portions of the Old and ISTew 

 Worlds ; one species (our common L. longelytrata) ranges under different 

 names from Siberia to Algeria ; there are about ten species found in 

 Europe ; our five representatives may be distinguished as below ; the 

 sexual characters are not remarkable, the male having the sixth segment 

 of hind body truncate. 



I. Elytra very long, more than double as long as thorax, 



very closely and moderately strongly punctured . . L. LONGELYTEATA, Gocze. 



II. Elytra shorter, about or not quite twice as long as 



thorax. 

 i. Size larger ; form rather broad ; antennaa long and 

 slender. 



1. Punctuation of elytra moderately strong . . . L. Sharpi, ijye 



{monticnla, Sharp). 



2. Punctuation of elytra extremely close and fine . L. pubescens, Maiinh. 

 ii. Size smaller; form narrower; antennje shorter; 



elytra very strongly and deeply punctured. 



1. Thorax shorter ; third joint of autcnnaj shorter; 



elytra more closely punctured L. sicula, Hr. 



{pimctata, Brit. Coll.). 



2. Thorax longer ; third joint of antenna; longer ; 



elytra less closely punctured L. punctata, Er. 



{muscorum, Duv.). 



Zi. long-elytrata, Goeze {Mcolor, F.). Black, rather shining, clothed 

 with fine grey pubescence, elytra often lighter or darker pitchy brown • 

 head rather narrower than thorax, thickly and deeply punctured ; antenna3 

 longer than head and thorax united, ferruginous, with first joint, and the 

 second except base, black or darker than the rest ; thorax much narrower 

 than elytra, subcordiform, witli sides rounded in front and contracted be- 

 hind, posterior angles right angles, thickly and deeply punctured ; elytra 

 very long, more than double as long as thorax, dilated behind, very closely 

 and moderately strongly punctured ; hind body very finely punctured ; 

 legs lighter or darker red. L. 3|-4 mm. 



In moss, refuse, &c., mostly in damp places; generally distributed and common 

 throughout the kingdom. 



Zi. Sharpi, Eye (monficola, Sharp, nee Kies.). This species is very 

 like L. puhcsccns in general appearance, but may easily be distinguished 

 from that species by the evidently much stronger punctuation of theelytra- 

 it is of the same size as L. longelytrata, from which it may be distinguished 

 by its rather longer antennce which are of a clearer red colour, hy its longer 

 thorax, and by the less close and stronger punctuation and evidently 

 longer pubescence of the thorax and elytra, the latter of which are sliorter; 



VOL. II. D d ' 



