402 Mr. A. M. Lea on 



On the male of blackburni there is a peculiar streak of 

 clothing; on the mctastcnium and abdomen, but on that 

 species the main portion of it is on the aljdomen, whereas 

 on this species it is on the metasteruum ; there arc other 

 dift'ercuces also, in addition to the very difterent clothing of 

 the upper surface. The clothing of both prothorax and 

 elytra is much like that ot" some specimens of scjnarnivaria, 

 but it is readily distinguished from that species by the 

 under surface of the male; the females of the two species, 

 however, are extremely alike, and I can find no satisfactory 

 characters to distinguish them. It is also close to pretiosa, 

 but that species has the uuder surface of the male, and the 

 rostrum of the female, very different. On the upper surface 

 most of the scales are scarlet, the stramineous ones (some- 

 times almost white) are in numerous small s])ots on the 

 elytra, and form two spots down middle of prothorax, several 

 on each and one on each side of middle. Each sutural 

 interstice is acutely carinated, the carina on each being 

 quite close to its fellow, so that the suture itself appears to 

 be closely bicarinated throughout its length. 



The female c)f this species was previously given to me as 

 belonging to the one J described under the name of Lylxebu 

 acuticusta {^ = Dietliusa fervida), but this was certainly in 

 error. 



Diethusa niveodispersa, sp. n. 



Reddish castaneous, under surface and parts of legs darker. 

 Densely clothed with sooty scales, with white scales scattered 

 thickly about and on the elytra more or less linear in 

 arrangement; under surface of body aud of legs with snowy 

 scales. 



nostrum long, thin, and feebly dilated from base to apex ; 

 behind antennae with rows of punctures and feeble cariuse, 

 in front of same with dense punctures. Scape thin, the 

 length of f unicle, inserted two-fit'ths from apex of rostrunj ; 

 first joint of funicle slightly longer than second. Prothorax 

 moderately transverse, with den^e punctures. Elytra briefly 

 subcordate, base strongly trisinuate, with rows of oblong 

 punctures, in rather narrow strise; interstices wide, nowhere 

 ridged, with dense, normally concealed punctures. Basal 

 segment of abdomen depressed in middle; apical with a 

 shallow impression. Femora stout, strongly aud acutely 

 dentate, each with a small granule in subapical emargination ; 

 front tibiai bisinuate on lower surface, the others subfalcale. 



Length 4 mm. 



Hub. New South Wales ; Baan Baa. 



