Australian and TasriKinian Coleoptera. 155 



Ctenisophus. 



Probably all, or at any rate most, of the species of this 

 gemis are to be taken occasionally in the nests of ants. They 

 have not been so recorded, however, this probably being due to 

 most of the specimens having been taken in flood debris, on 

 fence tops at dusk, or at lights. One of the more satisfactory 

 characters for distinguishing species of the genus is the impres- 

 sion on the middle of the third ventral segment of the male ; 

 but in the descriptions of most species of the genus this has 

 not even been mentioned. Apart from this the sexes are readily 

 distinguished by the antennae, in the male the four terminal 

 joints forming a club, in the female the apical joint only, or the 

 two apical, forming the club. 



Ctenisophus morosus, Raffr. 



I have seen but Tasmanian specimens of this species, but in 

 Tasmania it is the most common of the genus. Specimens have 

 been taken in flood debris, in tussocks, on fence tops at night, 

 and in the nests of two species of ants (Colobopsis gasseri and 

 Camponotus nigriceps). It may be readily identified by the 

 strong transverse impression on the third abdominal segment of 

 the male. 



Ctemsojjhus patmelis, Raffr. 



Two specimens of this species were taken in the nest of a 

 small brownish ant, perhaps an Iridomyrmex. 



Ctenisophus impressus. Sharp. 



Described by Sharp from W. Australia, but recorded by 

 Raffray (who had a co-type) from S. Australia and Victoria 

 as well. Specimens before me, which appear to belong to the 

 species, are from N.S. Wales (taken by Dr. Ferguson in the nest 

 of a white ant, Euternies sp.) ; Victoria (Birchip, J. C. Goudie, 

 Ararat. H. W. Davey in a nest of small black ants rather larger 

 than Colohopiiis f/as-^eri) ; Adelaide (from King's collection) and 

 W. Australia (Darling Ranges, A. M. Lea, from a nest of Termes 

 lacteus). 



