498 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, 



and joined to the basal spot; on a 7th (and very pale) specimen 

 the two fascia3 appear more like small spots, each of the basal 

 spots is very small, and the lateral stripe has disai3peared except 

 for a small sjDot opposite the apical fascia. Of the seven specimens, 

 five have the prothorax absolutely clear; in the other two there 

 is a slight fuscous tinge in the middle; the sutural line is narrow 

 in all. 



I had a full description of this species written out as new, but 

 thinking it possible that Mr. Blackburn's unique type of occiden- 

 talis was one of its varieties, asked his opinion thereon, and he 

 stated that the specimen I sent him was certainly occidenialis. 



Rhizobius hirtellus, Crotch. 



I have numerous specimens which I refer to this species, and 

 which have the head, prothorax and legs red, the elytra piceous 

 with a coppery gloss, and clothed with ashy pubescence mingled 

 with longer and darker hairs. In many of them the sterna and 

 abdomen are piceous, sometimes ferruginous ; occasionally the 

 abdomen is dark ferruginous with indistinct reddish blotches at 

 the sides; several specimens have the elytral margins diluted 

 with red; the legs are occasionally tinged with piceous; on several 

 there is a feeble piceous cloud on the disc of the prothorax. The 

 pubescence varies in density and slightly in length. The smaller 

 specimens are generally more convex than the larger ones. The 

 size varies from 1|^ to 3 mm. I have specimens from Brisbane 

 Q. ; Sydney, Forest Reefs and Tamworth, N.S.W. ; Hobart, 

 Tasm. ; and Geraldton, Pinjarrah, Swan River, Rottnest and 

 Garden Islands, Boyanup, Darling Ranges and Mount Barker, 

 W.A. The species is a very useful one, and may frequently be 

 seen in citrous and other orchards, where it feeds especially on 

 the "San Jose," "red" and "greedy" scales (Aspidiotus per7iici- 

 osus, aurantii and rapax)', its larvee are severely parasitised by a 

 Chalcid wasp. 



Rhizobius discipennis, Blackb. 



A specimen (from the Richmond River) under examination 

 probably belongs to this species, but it differs from the Rev. T. 



