3 
f -'.It 2ft 
204. 
MICROPEPLUS TESSERULA. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Silphidoe Leach . 
Type of the Genus Staphylinus porcatus Payk. 
Micuopeplus Lat., Leach , Sam.— Staphylinus Payk. — Omalium Gyll. 
— Nitidula Oliv., Herbst., Marsh. 
Antennce inserted on each side the nasus, before the eyes, short, 
capitate, received when at rest, into a cavity of the thorax, 
9-jointed, basal joint large, subovate, 2d pear-shaped, 3d slen- 
der, the 5 following decreasing in length, the 7th and 8th being 
turbinate, the 9th forming an ovate pubescent solid club (6). 
Labrum exserted, transverse, rounded, slightly emarginate and 
pilose in front (1). 
Mandibles rather large, bent, bifid at the apex, the interior margin 
membranous and pubescent (2). 
Maxillce small, obscurely bilobed and pubescent at the apex. 
Palpi apparently 4-jointed, basal joint very slender, the re- 
mainder forming an elongated conical club, the 1st joint of which 
is very large, the 2d transverse, and the terminal one slender (3). 
Mentum coriaceous dilated at the base and notched on each side. 
Labium membranous. Palpi very short and membranous, triar- 
ticulate, rather stout (4). 
Head subtrigonate. Eyes small touching the Thorax, which is trans- 
verse, broadest at the base , with the angles acute. Scutellum trian- 
gular. Elytra quadrate , covering rather more than half the Ab- 
domen, which is acuminated. Wings 2. Legs slender. Coxae, 
anterior strong. Thighs rather long. Tibiae perfectly simple. Tarsi 
4-jointed, 3 basal joints minute, 4th long clavate. Claws small 
(5, afore leg.) •• ,.»■ - • : 
Tesserula Hal. MSS. 
Pitchy black, shining, very minutely and thickly punctured. 
Head depressed and hollowed, with 3 ridges at the base. Thorax 
with the sides flat, dilated and ferruginous, the angles acute, a 
broad channel down the centre, a little narrowed beyond the 
middle, close to which on each side is a fovea. Elytra with 3 
elevated lines on each, one being close to the external margin, 
the interstices perfectly smooth, but very minutely punctured. 
Abdomen with 5 joints uncovered, side reflexed ; slightly cari- 
nated down the back with an interrupted elevated line on each 
side. Legs ferruginous. 
In the Cabinet of Mr. Holiday. 
