OF NEW ZEALAND. 1 15 



Length, 2 lines ; breadth, J. 



I found my unique example at Parua. 



214. L. ventralis, n.s. Thorax and elytra chestnut-red, head 

 darker, hind-body fuscous, the hind margin of all, half of the fifth and 

 the ventral segments of a pale castaneous colour, legs chestnut-yellow 1 , 

 antennae also of the latter colour, but with the intermediate joints more 

 or less infuscate ; head and thorax nearly nude, elytra finely pubescent, 

 the abdomen distinctly. 



Very much like L. zealandicus, but less robust, the head more quad- 

 rangular and less evidently punctate ; the prothorax more oblong and 

 nearly straight at the sides, with rounded angles ; the elytra obviously 

 larger than the thorax and finely punctured (the punctation of L. 

 zealandicus being quite distinct) ; in both species the apical joint of the 

 maxillary palpi is hardly distinguishable, whilst that of L. comptus is 

 quite distinct. 



Length, if line ; breadth, quite J. 



I found three specimens near Whangarei. 



Group OMALID^E. 



The spiracles of the prothorax invisible. Antenna with eleven joints, 

 straight, inserted below the lateral margins of the forehead. Labrum 

 entire, often provided with a membraneous border in front, or with two 

 appendages of similar nature at the anterior angles. Paraglossa absent, 

 Two ocelli on the upper part of the forehead. Elytra ordinarily longer 

 than the sternum. Abdomen strongly margined. Anterior coxa conical, 

 prominent; the posterior transversal. Tarsi with five joints. Prothorax 

 with a membraneous space underneath. 



Omalium. 



Gravenh. ; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. ii.,/. 143. 



Mentum transversal, a little narrowed and truncated at apex. 

 Ligula bilobed ; its lobes rounded. Labial palpi with the second joint 

 short, the first and third equal ; the second of the maxillary moderately 

 long, third short, the apical more or less elongate and almost acuminate. 

 Lobes of the maxilla membraneous ; the external slightly longer than 

 the internal, ciliated at the extremity. Mandibles short, unarmed. 

 Labrum transversal, furnished with a short membraneous border and 

 ciliated in front. Head trigonal, provided with a rather distinct neck. 

 Eyes moderate, rounded, prominent ; ocelli situated near the margin of 

 the eyes. Antenna gradually thickened towards the extremity ; the 

 basal longer and stouter than the others, second and third obconical, 

 sub-equal ; joints four to ten of variable form, in general, gradually 

 becoming transverse, eleventh short, oval. Prothorax usually narrower 

 that the elytra, transversal. Elytra covering the base of the abdomen. 

 Abdomen more or less elongate, rounded posteriorly, strongly margined 



