REDESCRIPTION OF XENICOPODA MOORE AND LEGNER 
(COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE, OMALIINAE), 
WITH SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES* 
By Margaret K. Thayer 
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, Mass. 02138 
Introduction 
Moore and Legner (1971) described a new genus and species of 
Omaliinae, Xenicopoda helenae, on the basis of a unique specimen 
of undetermined sex collected on Mt. Wilson, California. The ma- 
jor distinguishing character they noted for this genus (op. cit. and 
Moore and Legner, 1974) was the bizarrely modified protarsi, quite 
unlike any previously described in the Omaliinae. 
Since then I discovered a series of six X. helenae in the H. C. 
Fall Collection at the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Exam- 
ination of these specimens showed that the unusual front tarsi 
found on the type are present only in males. Females have 
normal female omaliine protarsi, slender and with equal tarsal 
claws. This distinct difference between the sexes and the availabil- 
ity of additional specimens of Xenicopoda made it seem worth- 
while to publish an amplified description of the genus. Detailed 
study of the type and the six other specimens also led to the dis- 
covery of a number of discrepancies between the specimens and the 
original description. The proportions as given in the description 
and as shown in the original habitus drawing are rather distorted, 
owing partly, perhaps, to the fact that the type is somewhat curled 
up. Proportions based on careful measurements of the seven avail- 
able specimens will be mentioned below. The head shape in the 
original drawing is rather distorted as well, and a new figure is 
given. 
* Manuscript received by the editor November 3, 1977 
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