Australian and Tasmanian Cryptocephalides. 371 



occasionally exactly as in the ordinary female described by 

 Chapuis, but usually the apical third is black, the black 

 portion converging obliquely from each side to the suture. 



The description of Idiocephala hella, Baly, appears to 

 have been drawn up from a normal female of this species. 



A variety (of which there are four specimens before me, 

 one of which was taken in coj). with a male as described 

 by Chapuis) of the female occurs in which the elytra are 

 occasionally entirely black ; these females look very much 

 like the specimens I believe to be Loxo2')leurus conjugatus, 

 except that they are larger, but they may be at once 

 distinguished by the sculpture of the head. 



Hah. N. S. Wales : Sydney, Gunning, Tamworth, 

 Galston, Forest Reefs, Queanbeyan, Jenolan ; S. Australia; 

 Queensland : Brisbane, Wide Bay, Mackay. 



Cryptocephalus dichrous, Chp. 

 (Plate XXIII, figs. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47.) 



This is a very variable species, closely allied to argentatus, 

 and with many of its varieties resembling varieties of that 

 species to a remarkable degree ; dichrous, however, has 

 a longer prothorax, slightly shorter scutellum, stouter 

 antennae, and head with simple or almost simple punctures ; 

 whilst in argentatus the upper half of the head is densely 

 and finely strigose (" longitudinaliter aciculata "). 



I have only seen two specimens (one from Port Denison, 

 the other from N. W. Australia) agreeing exactly with 

 Chapuis' description of the colours of this species ; usually 

 the sides and apex of elytra are narrowly margined with 

 dull red, the head (except for the eyes) is usually entirely 

 pallid ; usually the five, but sometimes six, basal joints of 

 antennae are pallid, whilst in two specimens parts of the 

 7th and 8th are also pallid ; the tarsi are sometimes 

 entirely pallid, although the 3rd joint is usually darker 

 than the others ; the abdomen and metasternum are 

 occasionally infuscate. It is in the elytra, however, that 

 the greatest variation occurs. The following forms are 

 before me. 



Elytra entirely greenish-blue (as in the type). 



Elytra greenish-blue, narrowly margined with dull red (this 

 appears to be the more normal form). 



The same, except that there is an obscure subbasal fascia in the 

 form of a broad V (the V variable in size). 



