62 AUSTEALIAX SUGAR-CANE BEETLES AND THEIR ALLIES. 



&c., at Greenhills ou 4tli February, 1920, aud on 1st February, 1921, tbe 

 same tree served as an asylum for further hordes. In such a position 

 they can be seen mating during the day, tlie male perched on the back 

 of the female. One has to approach them very cjuietly, as a sudden 

 movement will cause them to drop suddenly; first one will fall to the 

 ground, then others, until in a few seconds hundreds are raining down. 

 and in the course of a couple of minutes not one is left on the tree-trunk 

 where just before they were in such numbers. At 8 a.m., 17th April, 

 1920, a cool fresh morning, many adults were watched leaving the foliage 

 of a large poplar gum {Eucalyptus platypliylla) and seeking protection 

 beneath the bark of its trunk ; the leaves were ragged at the edges from 

 the attack. 



In 1918. stage III larvie Avere found sparingly in various situations, 

 around Gordonvale from 18th February until 15th October ; on this last 

 date one was unearthed in a cell at a depth of 12 inches in a clay 

 embankment under blady grass {Imperata arundinacea). 



EPHOLCIS DIVERGENS WATERHOUSE. 



A rather larger form, that accompanies E. hilohiccps, but has never- 

 been collected in numbers. 



EPHOLCIS PACILIS AYATERHOUSE. 



We have several of this drab little insect, collected on flowers at 

 Greenhills in January, 1920. 



LIPARETRUS ATRICEPS MACLEAY. 



This lively little beetle is not uncommon at Gordonvale on the 

 foliage of Eucalyptus, the poplar gum (E. platypliylla) being preferred. 

 In this locality it appears earlier in the season than any other ]Melolonthid 

 known to us, and is active on the foliage during the day. 



AYe have a single specimen of a second species, L. la' vat us ]Macleay,. 

 also from Gordonvale. 



PHYLLOTOCUS NOVICULARIS BLANCHARD. 



The genus rhyllotocus comprises a great many active little beetles, 

 smaller than those of Liparctrus, that frecpient flowers. P. noviculuris- 

 has been taken in January on floAvers at Greenhills. 



CHEIRAGRA VITTATA AIACLEAY^ 



In this segregate are grouped a numl)er of small l)eetles, very similar- 

 indeed to those of Phyllotocus. ('. vittata has been collected on several 

 occasions from Babinda. the males clustered on cane-leaves ; the female 

 is rare, and we have only one. 



M^CHIDIUS. 



Here fall a number of dull insects, with a more or less indented or 

 concave front margin of the head; in this respect they resemble Epliolcis 

 but are of a more solid appearance. AYe are familiar with three species — 

 31. caviceps Blackburn. M. fissiceps Alacleay, and M. rngosicollis IMacleay ; 

 they are attracted to light, and also assemble under the loose bark of 

 Eucalypts. 



