BY G. F. HILL. 347 



A rather large species readily distinguished from all other Australian species 

 of the genus by its large size and bright red prothorax; at first glance the speci- 

 mens look like elongate ones of Mordella ruficolUs without the elytral markings, 

 but the hind-tibiae and tarsi have the characteristic features of Mordellistena. 



Type and two co-types in South Australian Museum. 



Locality. — North Queensland: Palm Island. 



Biology. 



The above beetles were bred from a piece of rotten log infested with a re- 

 cently described species of Termite, Calotermes {Glyptotermes) nigrolabrum Hill 

 (These Proceedings, xlvi., p. 437), which was gathered in a scrub-covered ravine 

 on the southern end of the largest of this group of islands (22/6/21). Larvae 

 and pupae were noticed amongst the termites in the tunnels through the rotten, 

 spongy wood. Specimens of these and other termitophilous insects were secured 

 in the field and a large piece of the log, containing probably several hundred 

 termites, was brought back and placed in a jar for further observation. Beyond 

 keeping the wood moist, no further attention was paid to it until about the 15th 

 July, when the appearance of the alate forms of the termite was expected. On 

 the latter date some of the wood was cut open, exposing only a small colony of 

 termites and one beetle pupa, all of which were returned to the jar with as little 

 disturbance as possible. The first beetle emerged on the 20th August and the 

 others on or about 27th August. Unfortunately it was not discovered until too 

 late that the tube containing larval and pupal stages had been lost. As the ter- 

 mite and its enemy are probably both fairly common in certain localities on the 

 island it is hoped to secure further material for description at an early date. 



I am greatly indebted to Mr. A. M. Lea for the examination of, and ex- 

 pressions of opinion upon, this interesting insect. 



As a beneficial insect, the species described above is hardly likely to prove 

 of any practical value unless it could be established in the colonies of some of 

 the more destructive species of Termites. Its present only known host is not 

 now, nor is it Kkely to become in the future, of any economic importance; more- 

 over, the habits of this and allied species of Termites are so entirely different 

 from those of, say, Mastotermes dariviniensis, Rhinotermes spp., Coptotermes 

 spp. and other injurious species, that it seems improbable that a parasite of the 

 former could ever become a factor in controlling the latter. 



