251 



Elleschus wellingtoniensis, n. sp. 



Reddish-testaceous ] under surface black, but apex of 

 abdomen diluted with red. Rather densely clothed with 

 straw-coloured or slightly golden pubescence or setae; becom- 

 ing sparser and paler on under surface, both of body and 

 legs. 



Host rum rather stout, feebly curved, distinctly shorter 

 than prothorax, narrow near base and then rather strongly 

 inflated; with fairly dense and distinct punctures on apical 

 half, but concealed on basal half. Antennae stout, inserted 

 about one-third from apex of rostrum; scape about half the 

 length of funicle and club combined. Frotliorax feebly con- 

 vex, about once and one half as wide as long, sides rounded 

 and decreasing in width from near base to apex, base feebly 

 and continuously rounded ; with small, dense, and usually 

 concealed punctures; with traces of a very feeble median 

 carina. Elytra elongate-cordate, scarcely parallel-sided any- 

 where; with series of fairly large punctures in feeble striae; 

 interstices feebly separately convex, with fairly numerous but 

 usually concealed punctures. Abdomen with rather fine and 

 partially concealed punctures. Femora stout, edentate. 

 Length, 3 mm. 



Hah. — Tasmania: Summit of Mount Wellington (A. M. 

 Lea). 



The type is evidently a male. There are four other 

 specimens (also taken on the summit of Mount Wellington) 

 before me, which are possibly females, but the rostrum is of 

 very different shape, being quite straight, parallel-sided from 

 base to apex, thinner and longer. The antennae (and more 

 noticeably the scape) are thinner and inserted almost in 

 exact middle of sides of rostrum. The clothing is much the 

 same but rather paler. The colour of the abdomen of one of 

 these is exactly as in the type ; in another only its base is 

 infuscated ; the two others being intermediate. 



