British Species of Homalota. 263 



H. suhsinuata, Er. Gen. et Spec. Staph. 125; Kr. Ins. 

 Deutsch. ii. 316. H. castanipes, Wat. Cat. Acrotona 

 fimetaria, Th. Sk. Col. iii. 37. 



This species is distinguished amongst its allies by its 

 small head, the abdomen but little narrowed towards the 

 apex, and strongly and moderately closely punctured. 

 The antennae are blackish, with the first joint pitchy; 

 moderately short, not stout, a little thickened towards 

 the apex ; joints two and three moderately long, of about 

 equal length, four to ten each slightly broader than its 

 predecessor, of the first of them the length differs but 

 little from the breadth, and the last ones are but little 

 shorter than broad; the eleventh joint is rather stout, 

 about as long as the two preceding together. The head 

 is small and rounded, about half as broad as the thorax, 

 finely and moderately closely punctured. The thorax is, 

 at the base, about as broad as the elytra, about half as 

 broad again as long, distinctly narrower at the anterior 

 than at the posterior angles, pretty closely and finely 

 punctured, with a moderately distinct central longitudinal 

 channel, the exserted setas of the sides indistinct. The 

 elytra are about a fourth longer than the thorax, pitchy- 

 black or blackish, closely, moderately finely, and dis- 

 tinctly punctured. The abdomen is black and shining, 

 narrowed from behind the middle to the apex, which is 

 pitchy ; segments two to four are rather closely and dis- 

 tinctly punctured, five and six more finely and sparingly 

 punctured, the pubescence is distinct and rather rough, 

 the outstanding setae of the sides and apex rather 

 numerous, but not long. The legs are pitchy-yellow; 

 the middle tibiae each with a short seta in the middle, 

 posterior ones with the setae undeveloped. 



In the male, the ventral plate of the seventh abdo- 

 minal segment is a little produced in the middle, while 

 in the female it is furnished with distinct black cilia, 

 and rather broadly and not deeply emarginate. 



In England and Scotland, but not very common ; 

 generally found among moss and dead leaves, in the 

 spring. 



151. Homalota pulchra. 



Nigra, nitidula, antennis thoracis lateribus anoque 

 fuscis, pedibus elytrisque testaceis, his circa scutellum 



