OF NEW ZEALAND. 247 



437. L. decorus, n.s. Oval, convex, of a glossy greenish-black 

 colour above, deep black below, and rather densely clothed with 

 depressed setae. 



Head covered with orange-coloured setse, so as to render its sculpture 

 invisible or indistinct. Prothorax short, of the same width as the elytra 

 at its base, a good deal narrowed towards the front, with straight sides ; 

 it is usually densely covered with reddish-yellow setae which conceal its 

 finely and closely punctate surface. Sciitellum triangular. Elytra 

 obovate, considerably narrowed behind, so that the apex seems some- 

 what pointed ; their surface is covered with a shallow indistinct 

 punctation, and is sparingly clothed with fine orange and white setje 

 intermingled, those of the latter colour predominating near the sides 

 and apex. My specimens are almost nude on the dorsum, but I do not 

 think this is altogether due to abrasion. Legs elongate, the tibice not 

 much dilated, and bearing fine short white hairs. Palpi robust. 



The atitennce are hardly as long as the head and thorax, scarcely 

 clavate, their basal joint is stout, joints two to five are almost cylindrical 

 and about equal to one another, the three following are sub-oval, ninth 

 round but little broader than the eighth, and the tenth is oval and 

 larger than its predecessors. 



The abdomen is punctulated and bears fine grey hairs, the nieta- 

 sternum is shining with an impression near the hind coxpe, and the 

 cavities for the reception of the legs in repose are well-marked. 



Nearly i line long, by \ broad. 



I found a few examples at Tairua. 



43S. L. punctatus, n.s. Sub-ovate, convex, moderately shining, 

 black, covered with depressed yellow and white setae. 



The punctation of the body is close and quite obvious ; the jneta- 

 sternum is finely punctulated, and impressed with a longitudinal line ; 

 there is a dense patch of fine pale yellow pubescence at each side, and 

 another of longer hairs on the apical ventral segment. 



Length, i line ; breadth, h. 



The insect is slightly larger than L. decorus, less narrowed posteriorly, 

 duller, and distinctly punctate. I am indebted to Professor Hutton for 

 my specimen ; he found it at Lindis Pass, Otago. 



FAMILY— PARNIDES. 



Ligula generally large and entire. Maxillce with two unarmed lobes. 

 Maxillary palpi with four, the labial with three joints. Antcnncc of 

 variable form, frequently consisting of eleven joints. Head small, 

 retractile. Elytra entirely covering the abdomen. Anterior coxce occa- 

 sionally sub-cylindrical and transverse, sometimes sub-globose, separate ; 

 their cotyloid cavities completely open behind: the intermediate sub- 

 oval, distant : the posterior transversal, contiguous. 7<?;-j/pentamerous, 

 simple ; their apical joint very large, armed with robust claws. Abdomen 

 composed of five or seven segments ; the anterior connate. 



