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LOMECHUSA DENTATA. 
Order Coleoptera. Fam. Staphylinidae. 
Type of the Genus, Lomechusa dentata Grav. 
Lomechusa Grav., Gyll., Curt. — Dinarda Leach, Curt. — Staphylinus 
Payk., Fab. 
Antennce inserted close to and before the eyes, short stout, sub- 
fusiform, pubescent and pilose, 1 1 -jointed, basal joint subpyri- 
form, 2nd the smallest, 3rd larger obovate-truncate, the 7 fol- 
lowing cup-shaped, gradually increasing in size, 1 1th the longest 
subovate, the apex curved, and furnished with a gland (6). 
Labrum transverse, the angles rounded, with a small convex 
space at the middle producing a few bristles (1). 
Mandibles subtrigonate, rounded externally, acute at the apex, the 
internal margin membranous, with the edge very pubescent (2). 
MaxiUce terminated by 2 lobes, the internal one the broadest, 
very pubescent on the inside and thickly ciliated, the external 
one longer and more slender, pubescent also. Palpi rather long 
and 4 -jointed, basal joint minute, 2nd long subclavate, 3rd longer 
stouter and pilose, 4th nearly as long as the 2nd j slender and 
attenuated (3). 
Mentum transverse, dilated at the base, angles rounded. Palpi 
inserted behind the anterior margin, remote, short and pilose, 
triarticulate, basal and 2nd joints short, 3rd longer, slender and 
linear. Lip small, narrow and bifid, each lobe producing a small 
glandular appendage (4). 
Head small suborbicular : eyes small and lateral. Thorax broader than 
the elytra, semicircular, the anterior margin concave, the posterior 
convex, the angles produced and acute. Scuteilum triangular. Elytra 
transverse, not longer than the thorax, the external posterior angles 
acute. Wings ample. Abdomen half the length of the insect, sub- 
ovate depressed, the sides margined. Legs short and slender. Tibiae 
simple. Tarsi very slender and b -jointed, basal joint a little longer 
than the 3 following which are very short, 5 th lung and clavate. Claws 
slender, slightly hooked (5). 
Dentata Grav. Coleop. Microp. 181. 4. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 223. 1 . 
Castaneous shining, thickly punctured and clothed with short 
rigid bristles : antennae black, except at the base and apex 5 head 
and disc of thorax dull black, the sides of the latter slightly re- 
flexed with a faint channel down the centre: scuteilum black. 
Abdomen less thickly punctured and pilose, the base of the seg- 
ments blackish, the apical joint ochreous. 
In the Cabinet of the British Museum. 
