676 COLEOPTERA. 



rufescent margins and apices, double the length of thorax and a third 

 broader at the middle ; the inner pair of striae, on each elytron, 

 moderately definite and distinctly punctured, the other vseries of punc- 

 tures are finer, those near the sides obsolete ; posterior carinae rather fine. 



Underside nitid. Middle of mesosternum coarsely bipunctate at each 

 side of the slender central carina. Sides of ventral segments with large 

 imj)ressions, the terminal bipunctate and setose at each side of the 

 middle at the apex. 



Previously set aside as a varietal form of Sharp's T. laeviventris 

 (1800), but when more carefully examined found to be dissimilar. The 

 sculpture differs, and the thoracic setae are absent. 



Length, 5 mm.; breadth, 2 J mm. 



Belgrove, near Nelson. Discovered bv the late Mr. T. Hall on the 

 24th October, 1914. 



4266. Tarastethus insularis sp. nov. 



Nitid, nigrescent, legs and elytral margins dark reddish, antennae 

 and tarsi fulvescent, palpi jDaler. 



Head evidently narrower than thorax, smooth, with the common 

 interocular sulci. Thorax slightly broader than long, widest and 

 rounded near the middle, distinctly margined, evidently narrowed 

 behind, but straight near the rectangular posterior angles, base and 

 apex truncate ; dorsal stria not reaching the apex or base, the latter 

 moderately closely punctate, the usual foveae short but not sharply 

 defined. Scutellum invisible. Elytra oviform, well margined, more convex 

 than the thorax, almost twice its length, slightly broader than it is at the 

 base, not double its width at the middle ; they are moderately substriate- 

 punctate, less distinctly so towards the sides, the series beyond the third 

 considerably finer near the base, the subapical plicae rufescent and distinct. 

 Terminal ventral segment bisetose at the extremity. 



After comparison with several other species I fail to find any that 

 are exactly similar. 



Length, 5-^ mm. ; breadth, quite 2| mm. 



Chetwood Island. Described from a female found by Mr. A. C. 

 O'Connor during Julv, 1917. 



Grouj) Tachyporidae. 



Conurus Stephens. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 96. 

 4267. Conurus morosus sp. nov. 



Elongate, subopaque, without perceptible sculpture ; clothed with 

 decumbent dark ashy ])ubescence, the hind-body with many nigrescent 

 outstanding setae ; nigro-fuscous, basal two joints of the antennae 

 fulvescent. 



Head as broad as front of thorax, obliquely narrowed anteriorly. Thorax 

 rather broader than long, very gradually narrowed towards the truncate 

 apex, the base subtruncate, with obtuse angles. Elytra a third longer 

 than thorax, not quite as wide as it is at the base, straight-sided, apices 

 obtusely rounded towards the suture, with fine shallow indistinct punc- 

 tures. Hind-body with ])ale apical margins. 



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