238 COLKOl-TEKA. 



SL-apc iiisc'itnl l)i't\v(vii tli<' iiiiddlr a'ld apL-x, not L-xtending back- 

 wards as far as tlu- c-ye, gradually iiicrassatt- ; 2iid joint of funiculus 

 neaily t\\v lengtli of the 1st but much more slender, 3rd slightly longer 

 than broad, joints i-G bead-like. 7tli ratlicr broader; elul) elongate-oval, 

 finely pul)escent, triarticulati'. 



riidcisidi' thickly covered with I'ather coarse, depi'essed greyish 

 squamae. Pectoral canal deep, and extending t(j the front of the intei'- 

 mediate coxae. Metasternum abbreviated, so that the ])osterior and 

 midille coxae almost touch each other. Basal ventral segment nearly 

 twice tlie length of the 2nd, both broadly channelled along the middle, 

 3rd and -ith on a rather lower plane and, togctlier, longei" than the 2nd, 

 5th also coarsely squamose. 



The scutellum is absent, the scrobes and eyes are normal, the insect 

 nevertheless differs fi-om all the other New Zealand species in facies. 



Length (rostrum exclusive), 2-2^ nnn. ; l)readt]i, IJ, mm. 



Rakaia (4orge, near Methven. Half a dozen specimens were found 

 amongst decavinu' leaves and fine satid V)v Mr. T. Hall on the IStli Mav, 

 1912. 



3636. Acalles bicristiceps sp. nov. 



Convex, subovate, the thorax abruptly nariowei' than the elytra, 

 opaque, uneven; fusco-piceous, antennae and tarsi fulvescent; thickly 

 covered with slightly variegated, cliiefly light-brown oi- tawny squamae, 

 the scutellai- region nigrescent; tibiae obscurely reddish. 



Rostrum moderately arched, subparallel, longer than the thorax, sub- 

 seriate-punctate near the middle, moi'e finely and ch)SL'ly near the some- 

 wliat rufescent apex. Head short, bicristate between the subrotundate 

 eyes. Thorax somewhat abruptly contracted in front for half its length, 

 closely but not coarsely punctured, bicristate at the apex, quadricristate 

 across the front of the broad basal half, its greatest length and bieadth 

 about equal. Elytra more convex than the thorax, considerably bi-oader, 

 but witli obli((ue shoulders, so that the base hardly exceeds that of the 

 tlioiax in width, tlieir sides ar<' but little rounded, and the posterior 

 declivity tliougli not vertical is much narrowed; they are striate- 

 punctate in reality, but, owing to the squamae, appear indistinctly 

 striate: the 3rd interstices are bicristate, tlie 5th tricristate; half-way 

 down tlic liind declivity there is usually a transverse series of dark erect 

 scales. Jiegs iriodcrately elongate and bearing subei-ect variegated scales; 

 tarsi ratlier nari-ow, basal joint evidently longer than the next, the 

 penultimate^ only moderately ex])anded and l)i]ol)cd ; they are covered 

 with decumbent slender setae. 



Scape ratliei' slender, gradually incrassate, implanted at or just 

 befoie the middle, and attaining tlie front of the eye. Funiculus elon- 

 gate, 2nd joint slightly longer l)ut more slender than the basal, joints 

 3-7 become shorter and broader, the last is of the same width as the 

 club, which is very I'longate-oval, densely pul)eseent, and with its basal 

 joint as long as the following two. 



Underside densely squamose, to a great extent nigro-fuscous. but 

 with nunnTous nearly white scales also. Prosternal canal cavernous 

 behind, and liinited between the intei-mediate coxae by raised borders. 

 Metastt'rnum hardly longer than the 2nd abilominal segment, the basal a 

 tliird lonj^i')-. 3rd and 4th together almost as long as the 2nd, 5th small. 



Scutellum al)seiit Ocular lobes moderate. 



T^-ngth (i-osti-um exclusive), 3-3J-mm.; breadth, l§nim. 



