40 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 



Natural Enemies. — A dexiid (undetermined), bred November, 1914; t 



a dexiid fly (undetermined), bred February, 1915; a dexiid fly (undeter- 

 mined), bred March, 1915. 



(47) ANOPLOGNATHUS BOISDUVALI, Boisd. (Family ANOPLOGNATHIDAE), J 



Plate IV., Fig. 47, p. 34. 



Common at times among roots of sugar-cane, occurring in both light 

 and heavy soils, but showing a preference for sandy loams. This beauti- 

 ful insect, our so-called " Christmas Beetle," is widely distributed in 

 northern and southern portions of Queensland. It responds readily to 

 the attractive influence of artificial light. 



Description of Beetle. 



Elytra pale creamy-gray with faint green and pink iridescence ; 

 edges of suture green ; about 20 rows of fine punctures on each elytron, 

 half the numlier being straight and clouded in places with smoky-brown 

 having the appearance of somewhat broken parallel dotted lines ; outer 

 edges of elytra bordered with golden-brown. Head, prothorax, and 

 scutellum metallic greenish-gold, finely punctate. Pygidium bright 

 green edged with blue. Ventral area iridescent coppery-green ; thorax, 

 legs, and anterior margins of abdominal segments more or less clothed 

 with short white hairs. Tibia^ and tarsi purple. Length, 25 mm. 

 (nearly one inch). 



This species ranks about third in economic importance amongst 

 our beetles attacking sugar-cane. (See Bulletin No. 2 of this Bureau 

 for life-history notes). 



(48) ANOMALA AUSTRALASIAE, Blacklj. (Family RUTELLIDAE). 

 Plate IV., Fig. 48, p. 34. 



Description of Beetle. 



Uniform deep green with lustrous lighter shades of same colour 

 or of pinkish-bronze. Dorsal surface finely punctate. Legs and 

 venter of thorax sparingly clothed with white hairs. Length, 16 mm. 

 (f of an inch). Fairly abundant in canefields. 



Natural Enemies. — A tachinid fly (undetermined), bred Deceinbci- 

 and February, 1914-1915; a dexiid fly (undetermined), bred May, 1915. 



