84 



An extremely distinct species — perhaps nearest to 

 P. erythroiiterus^ Blanch., but with totally different coloration 

 and puncturation. The pubescence is almost as in that species, 

 but evidently shorter on the elytra ; the hairs on the sides, 

 undersurface and base of prothorax are white, the rest darker. 

 The prothorax is longer and narrower than in erythropterus. 

 The livid brown colour of the elytra covers most of the surface, 

 tlie dark margin of each elytron being narrow and obscure except 

 on the lateral margins and apex. The anterior tibiae have two 

 strong sharp teeth (one of them being the apical projection) 

 externally. 



This insect does not seem quite at home in Phyllotocus ; the 

 hind coxje are exceptionally short, being scarcely longer on the 

 external margin than the metasternum ; the elytra do not quite 

 reach the apex of the propygidium ; the style of marking and 

 colouring is nearest that of the glabrous species (Sir W. Macleay's 

 "first section" of the genus), while the pubescence is exag- 

 geratedly of the type of the second section ; there is, moreover, 

 nothing of the silky opacity so general in the hairy species of the 

 genus. The general resemblance in colour and shape and punc- 

 turation to Macrothops rostrata, MacL, is extremely close, but the 

 clypeus, palpi and antennae are at least very like those of a 

 Phyllotocus of the second section, though having only a single 

 specimen I have not been able to dissect the head, and to cannot 

 be sure of actual identity. The examination of a series of both 

 sexes might probably justify the creation of a new generic name. 

 I have considered the possibility of this being the undescribed 

 sex of JIac7'otho2?s, but if so the less dentate anterior tibiae and 

 short elytra would point to its being the male, whereas the much 

 less complicated clypeus and short palpi would seem inconsistent 

 with that supposition. In any case the yellow hind body and legs 

 would seem to distinguish specifically from 3f. rostrata. 



Western Australia ; presented to me by C. French, Esq., Vic- 

 torian Colonial Entomologist. 



LEPIDIOTA. 



In writing on this genus in the Proceedings of the Linnean 

 Society of New South Wales (Vol. III. Ser. 2 pp. 848-855) I 

 stated that unless I had seen examples only of one sex the sexual 

 distinctions w^ere very slight ; I am now fairly sure that I have 

 before me both sexes of two species belonging to it (Z. Daricini, 

 Blackb. and an undescribed one), and an examination of these 

 specimens confirms me in the opinion I previously expressed. 

 TJnfortunately specimens of Lepidiota appear to be rare (though 

 the species are relatively numerous), and I have not been able to 

 devote a (supposed) male and female to dissection so as to arrive 



