August. 1.S92J 201 



Cordus, the latter occurring under dry bark very near the top ot" 

 Mount Wellington. In dry stony places, more particularly near 

 Launceston, are found species of the curious genera Amycterm and 

 JPsalidura, which have somewhat the habits of Bracliycerus ; the 

 Psalidiirce are remarkable for the extraordinary forceps-like armature 

 of the last abdominal segment in the ^ . 



As may easily be imagined in so varied and richly wooded a 

 country, the Longicornia are a conspicuous feature in the insect fauna, 

 and include some very fine and handsome species. The largest is the 

 great Prionus-Vika Toxeutes arcuatus, F., which is not common near 

 Hobart, but fairly plentiful at Franklin and Scottsdale, near Laun- 

 ceston, being taken under loose bark. In decayed " post and rail " 

 fences the beautiful little violet-blue lotherium metallicwm^ Newm., is 

 not uncommon, and Enneapliijlliis ceneipcnnis, Waterh., a very fine and 

 conspicuous beetle with splendidly flabellated antennae in the J*, occurs 

 sparingly at a good elevation on the Mountain, where also the curious 

 r [igo&e Dorcadida biocidaris, White, is met with walking on tree trunks 

 and rocks. Phacodes obscurus, F., P. personatus, Er., and Phoracantlia 

 semipunctata, F., all fine large insects, are attached to the " wattle " 

 trees, sheltering under the loose bark, while two or three other species 

 of Phorocantha, Callidiopsis scutellaris, F., BetheUum signiferum, 

 K'ewm , and the very variable PJpitJwra dorsalis, Macl.,have their head- 

 quarters under gum-tree bark in "the Domain." The " box tree " 

 flowers attract Stenoderus sutut^alis, Oliv., and the pretty little brown 

 and white striped Syllitus grammicus, Newm. ; both these beetles 

 emit a strong and disagreeable odour like that of coal tar, while the 

 PJiorocanfhcB, on the other hand, have a pleasant apple-like scent. 

 On "tea tree" flowers are found the brachelytrous Resthesis cingulata, 

 Kirb., and the broad horned Distichocem par, Newm. ; Amphlrhoe 

 decora, Newn., a slender, graceful little insect, with long legs and very 

 large femora, is found rarely on fences, and the stout little grey He- 

 hecerus marginicollis, Bdv., occurs in profusion on low " wattle" bushes. 

 The most numerously represented genus of the Phytophaga is 

 Paropsis, of which quite a score of species, varying in size from that 

 of a Scymnus to a large Chrysomela, were obtained chiefly by beating the 

 young foliage of the young " peppermint " trees ; though some, as the 

 conspicuous P.picea, Oliv., and P. intacta, Newm., are also to be found 

 underbark. Many of these insects are very beautiful when alive, glitter- 

 ing like Cassididce with golden and other metallic tints, and like them, 

 fading sadly when dry. AVith these several pretty species of Cadmus (no- 

 tably the bright yellow and black C. f(«i6-^r«//6-,Boisd.)and Cryptocephalus 



