378 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



wide ; with four strongs, longitudinal, paralled carinae ; apex 

 distinctly notched ; sides towards base with several lateral pro- 

 jections. Eyes veiy small and indistinct, invisible both from 

 above and below. Antennae short, cylindrical, inserted one- 

 thii'd from apex of head, not extending to prothorax, joints very 

 indistinct. Submentiim soldered to the head. Prothorax not 

 much longer than head, convex along middle, sides flattened and 

 strongly serrate. Scutellum very short and strongly transverse. 

 Elytra scarcely wider than prothorax, disc convex, and each 

 with four costae, of which only the outer is very distinct, the 

 others (and especially the one near the suture) being but little 

 elevated ; costae separating double rows of punctiu-es ; sides flat- 

 tened from base to apex ; apex rather deeply notched. Legs 

 short ; femora very stout ; tibiae dilated towards and obliquely 

 cut off at apex ; tarsi (except claw-joint) thin. Length, 2^ mm. 



Hab. — Birchip. In nests of Crematogaster laeviceps. 



The two median carinae of the head are very distinct from 

 their base to about one-third from their apex, at their base 

 each is feebly bifurcated. The eyes are very small, and it was 

 some time before I could satisfy myself that the species had any 

 at all. The antennae are not clubbed, and, in fact, appear to be 

 perfectly cylindrical throughout, the joints being nowhere dis- 

 tinctly defined, and but for shades of colour (not visible from 

 some directions) marking the junctions of the joints, would 

 appear as if each was composed of but one long cylindrical joint. 

 I have been able to count but eight joints altogether (of which 

 the terminal one is longer and paler than the others), but it is 

 quite possible that there are more. 



In the previously described species the piece called by King 

 the submentum is notched behind, and when seen from the sides 

 appears as a kind of flap, which is distinctly separated from 

 the head; but in this species, although slightly notched behind, 

 it forms part of the head itself. This, with the shape of the 

 head, the peculiar antennae and the non-carinate prothorax, 

 might be regarded as causing the sjDecies to be generically dis- 

 tinct ; but I do not consider it advisable to propose a new genus 

 for its reception, as it is not reasonable to expect uniformity of 

 characters in species leading such abnormal lives as do these 

 insects. 



