270 



separate it very widely. In my tabulation of the 

 Australian Sericoid genera (Tr.R.S., S.A., 1898, pp. 32-34) 

 I relied upon the remarkable form of the front tibiae as a 

 generic character, which renders it necessary for me to add 

 (vide infra) a note on Pachygastra calling attention to this 

 insect which, in the absence of the male, I must regard as a 

 Frenchella presenting a very exceptional character. It should 

 be noted that in this species the apical joint of the labial 

 palpi, without differing very strongly from the Frenchella 

 type, is certainly less elongate and cylindrical than in the 

 other species known to me of the genus. 



North Queensland. Sent by Mr. Koebele. 



Platydesmus. 

 The species of this genus have been found as yet (so far as 

 I know) only in New South Wales and Queensland. They 

 are somewhat closely allied to Frenchella^ but are readily dis- 

 tinguishable from that genus by the structure of their labial* 

 palpi. They are for the most part notably smaller than the 

 species of Frenchella and are insects of less robust build, with 

 the antennal sexual characters — so far as known — more pro- 

 nounced, the flabellum of the male, at any rate, being not- 

 ably longer, and the antennal difference between the sexes 

 being in the one species of which the female is known very 

 much greater. The antennae in all the known species consist 

 of nine joints and in all except one the flabellum has only 

 three joints. The following table indicates characters by 

 which the known species may be identified. They are for the 

 most part insects of dull colours and not particularly inter- 

 esting appearance. 



A. Antennal flabellum consisting of only 

 three lamina?. 

 B. Basal 2 joints of hind tarsi scarcely 

 differing in length. 

 C. Pronotiim coarsely punctulate ... siilcipennis, Mad. 

 CC. Pronotnm finely punctulate ... obscuricornis, 

 BB. Basal joint of hind tarsi notably Blanch.? 



shorter than 2nd joint. 

 C. Prothorax fully twice as wide as 



long ... ... ... ... ... major, Blnchh. 



CC. Prothorax notably narrower ... inamoenus, B^acfcb. 

 AA. Antennal flabellum consisting of four 



laminae ... ... ... ... ... inusitatus, Blackh. 



P. (Ha/plonycha) obscuricornis, Blanch. I have before 

 me several specimens of a Platydesmus (from the neighbour- 

 hood of Sydney) which appear to be in all probability identi- 

 cal with Blanchard's Ha'plonycha obscuricornis. I should con- 

 sider the identification quite reliable if it were not that a 

 discrepancy certainly exists in respect of the colouring of the 



