570 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



Laius nidicola, n.sp. 



^. Head blackish-blue, muzzle narrowly bordered with yellow; 

 antennae black, apex of 1st joint and base of 2nd obscurely 

 marked with yellow; prothorax red, a large black blotch in middle 

 not continued to base or apex, and with a fuscous extension on 

 each side and on each side of base; basal portion of elytra of 

 a metallic blue shading off to violet; median fascia red, rather 

 narrow and waved, slightly dilated at sides and suture; subapical 

 patch large, violet-blue ; apex with a small subtriangular red 

 patch. Blue beneath, abdominal segments bordered with yellow; 

 legs black. Upper surface moderately densely clothed with erect 

 brown hair. 



Head rather finely punctate; vertex with a semicircular ridge; 

 a round fovea between eyes; clypeus feebly concave. Basal joint 

 of antennae slightly longer than 2nd, swollen at apex; 2nd longer 

 than wide, slightly wider at apex than base, convex below, grooved 

 above, the groove rising to middle where it is very shallow, base 

 connected with 1st joint slightly towards its inner edge rather 

 than in middle. Prothorax distinctly wider at apex than l^ase; 

 sides coarsely punctate ; near base transversely depressed, each 

 side of base in middle raised and thickened. Scutelluni transverse, 

 apex feebly rounded. Elytra dilated from near base; densely 

 and coarsely punctate except about scutellum, which portion is 

 distinctly raised, subapical violet patch punctate for about one- 

 fourth its length, almost impunctate elsewhere; sides and suture 

 raised and thickened almost to apex, an appearance as of an 

 oblique ridge on each side commencing at shoulders. Length 4|, 

 width 2 mm. 



5. Differs in having the 1st joint of antennae considerably 

 smaller than in ^ and much longer than 2nd joint; 2nd flattened, 

 not the length of 2nd-3rd combined; the head is less transverse 

 and the eyes less prominent; median blotch on prothorax rounded 

 and smaller; and the posterior tibiae straight and thinner. 



Hah. — Pelsart Island, W.A. 



Numerous specimens were seen in the nests of the Noddy Tern. 



