BY WILLIAM MACLEAY, F.L.S., &C. 383 



Thorax of varying length, more or less angular on the sides, 

 sinuate or truncate at the base, often grooved or foveate on the 

 disk. 



Scutellum of curvilinear triangular form, very sharp at the 

 extremity. 



Elytra of an oblong square form, rounded with a perpendicular 

 border at the apex. 



Legs rather long ; the anterior tibia3 bi- or uni-dentate at their 

 extremities without terminal spur, the four posterior ciliated or 

 velvety ; tarsi of variable length, the three or four first joints of the 

 anterior and two or three first of the intermediate dilated in the 

 males and clothed with long hairs, the claws robust, cleft at the 

 summit. 



Pygidium perpendicular, of variable form and size. 



All are insects of small size and for the most part of intense 

 metallic brilliancy of colouring. The larvae are unknown, the 

 perfect insects live, some on leaves, others on the petals of flowers. 

 They are found in all parts of Australia, but the Coast Districts of 

 New South Wales and Southern Queensland seems to be by far the 

 most rich in species. Some species have been observed to become 

 occasionally so numerous on their food plants as to be destructive, 

 but such cases I believe to be very rare. 



The following synopsis of the species ranged under the most 

 prominent distinctive features in the genus, will I think simplify 

 the identification of the species, and may save the investigator much 

 of the time which would be spent in referring to long descriptions. 



SECTION I. 



Legs reddish, not metallic. 



Diphucephala sericea, Kirby. Diphucephala obscura, n. sp. 



5, rufipes, Waterh. ,, ignota, n. sp. 



„ lineata, Boisd. ,, minima, n. sp. 



„ Eichniondia, n. sp. ,, nitens, n. sp. 



„ nitidicollis, n. sp. „ pubescens, n. sp. 



Diphucephala hirtipennis, Macleay. 

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