AUSTBALIAN BEES IN THE QUEEXSLAND MUSEUM.— COCKEJiELL. 263 



Brisbane, 3-3-14 {H. Hacker). I am at a loss to associate this with any known 

 female. Among the described males it has some resemblance to H. dampieri Ckll., 

 Ijut in that species the area of metathorax is dull and quite different ; in the present 

 insect it is concave and shining. It is easily known from H. hackeriellus Ckll. by the 

 red tibiae. 



Halictus urbanus var. lomatise n. var. 



Female. Mesothorax peacock-green ; scutellum bright blue, highly polished, 

 contrasting ; legs rufotestaceous ; stigma rather dilute reddish-brown ; flagellum 

 bright ferruginous beneath. Outer recurrent nervure and intercubitus hardly visible. 



Sunnybank, Brisbane, on flowers of Lomatia, 13-5-12. {H. Hacker.) I had 

 taken this for a distinct species, on account of the shining blue scutellum and paler 

 stigma, but microscopic examination shows that the hind spur, sculpture of area of 

 metathorax and scutellum, &c., are precisely as in H. mharms. 



Halictus limatiformis n. sp. 



Female. Length about 5 mm., black, with the mesothorax only (not even 

 scutellum) dark bluish-green ; pubescence dull white, abundant and curled on under 

 side of abdomen ; apical part of mandibles very dark-reddish ; front dull, orbital 

 margins shining ; antennae black ; mesothorax shining but not highly polished, 

 with scattered punctures ; scutellum shining ; area of metathorax granular and 

 dull, feebly plicate, with a shining margin ; tegulae dark castaneous ; wings dusky 

 hyaline ; stigma large and very dark, nervures brown, outer recurrent and inter- 

 cubitus almost obsolete ; first recurrent nervure ending just before second inter- 

 cubitus ; third submarginal cell short, little longer than second ; legs black, anterior 

 knees red ; abdomen shining black, without bands. Under the microscope the 

 mesothorax is seen to be minutely tessellated, with widely scattered distinct 

 punctures. Area of metathorax entirely without a sharp rim. Hind spur pectinate 

 with small teeth. 



National Park, Queensland, Dec, 1919 {H. Hacker). Very close to the 

 Tasmanian H. limatus Smith, but that has the area of metathorax more distinctly 

 striate, and pale testaceous tegulae. It may be only a race of Umain-s. 



Halictus humiliformis n. sp. 

 Female. Closely resembhng H. llmatiformis, but differing thus : — Mesothorax 

 shining blue, with a poUshed surface ; area of metathorax with fine but regular 

 and distinct pHcae or striae (as in H. limatus, from which it differs by the shining 

 mesothorax). By the small shining mesothorax it agrees with H. humilis Smith, 

 but from that it differs by the black legs, with anterior knees red, and the entirely 

 black antennae. The hind spur is not pectinate ; the scutellum is very sparsely 

 punctured, and the surface of the mesothorax, between the punctures, shows only 

 ,traces of tessellation. ^ 



Ebor, N.S.W., 30-12-15 {A. J. Tnrner). 



