129 



Descriptions of Australian Curculionid/e, with 

 Notes on Previously Described Species. 



By Arthur M. Lea. 



Part V. 



[Read July 2, 1907.] 



SUB-FAMILY LEPTOPSIDES. 

 Mandalotus. 



Erichson referred this genus to the Otwrliynchides near 

 Tylodtrt^; Lacordaire questioned its position there, but as it 

 was unknown to him could not satisfactorily place it, and pro- 

 visionally placed it at the end of the Eremnides; Pascoe re- 

 ferred Dysostines (a synonym of Mandalotus) to the Rhyjjaro- 

 somides. I believe the correct position of the genus to be in 

 the Leytojjsides, close to Folyphrades. 



The eyes, the scrobes, and the triangular plate at apex of 

 rostrum are very similar to those of most species of Poly- 

 'phrades, as are also the loose way the four front coxae are in- 

 serted, the shape of the side-pieces of the meso- and meta- 

 sternum, and the transverse corrugations of the concealed part 

 of the base of the head. The sexes also differ in much the 

 same way. 



The peculiar round, flattened granules of the prothorax 

 are much the same as in many species of Essolifhna, which 

 genus is certainly very close to Polyfhrades. 



Many of the species have also a subtubercular elevation 

 just behind the front coxse, as in the species of Lepfops and 

 other genera of the Leptopsides, but it is often partially con- 

 cealed. 



The scrobes are slightly variable, but their shape is so 

 often partially concealed by clothing that they cannot be 

 satisfactorily used. Above each scrobe, towards the base, 

 there is usually, if not always, a groove (sublateral sulcus) as 

 in the species of Lepfops, but this also is partly or entirely 

 concealed by clothing. 



The ocular lobes are distinct ^^^ and are always ciliated, 

 but they are usually not so strong as in Polyphrades. The ros- 

 trum is slightly longer than in most species of that genus ; but 

 apart from this and the entirely free claws of Mafidalotns it 

 would be often difficult or impossible to distinguish the two 

 genera. 



(1) In piJosus and j^inguis these lobes are absent; but. as will 

 be noted below, these species belong to Timareta. 



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