474 COLEOPTERA. 



Underside nigro-aeneous, finely sculptured, with elongate pubescence. 

 Fourth abdominal segment nearly semicircularly emarginate, 5th twice as 

 long, almost obconical, with a small subapical fovea, 6th narrow and 

 elongate. 



The remarkable, deeply sulcate pygidium by itself is sufficient for 

 immediate separation from any of the preceding species. It is distinctly 

 pubescent, rather smaller, much more nigrescent, but with more brightly 

 coloured legs and shorter antennae than L. cheesemani (3150). The other 

 near ally, L. obscurus (3151), can b' at once distinguished by the incurved 

 elytral base, prominent shoulders, dissimilar coloration, &c. 



Length, 31 mm. ; breadth, l|^mm. 



Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu. Half a dozen specimens, from Mr. M. O. 

 Pasco and Mr. A. Philpott ; January, 1914. 



3979. Luperus mediocris sp. nov. 



Nitid, bearing very few, inconspicuous, greyish hairs ; aeneo-cyaneous, 

 tibiae fusco-testaceous, femora and antennae fuscous. 



Head rather narrower than front of thorax, slightly rugose, with out- 

 standing ashy hairs in front. Eyes large but not prominent. Thorax a 

 third broader than long, the sides moderately marginate and very slightly 

 curved, base a little oblique near the sides, with subrectangular angles ; 

 disc without perceptible inequalities, irregularly, distantly, and very fhiely 

 punctured. Elytra four times the length of thorax, a little broader than 

 it is at the base, rather wider behind, with broadly rounded apices ; dis- 

 tinctly, moderately finely and closely punctate, slightly rugose, more finely 

 near the almost unimpressed shoulders, and with a few minute interstitial 

 punctures. Pygidium only slightly exposed. 



Antennae moderately slender, extending beyond middle thighs, 3rd 

 joint evidently shorter than 4th. but longer than 2nd. Legs and tarsi 

 moderate, tibiae straight. 



L. oleareae (2304), though larger and stouter, seems to be the most 

 nearly allied species. Sharp's L. aenescens (2316) has fusco-testaceous 

 antennae and a long, narrow, horizontal pygidium. 



Length, 4|- mm. ; breadth, 2 mm. 



Unknown Land, west of Moa Basin. Four found by Mr. T. Hall in 

 October. 1913. 



By Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington. 



[400/4/16—4889 



