4/6 ^ ON AUSTRALIAN ANTHICIDAE, , 



1. Dark, sometimes black, prothorax usually reddish at base, elytra with a 

 large flavous spot on each shoulder (the typical form). 



2. Like 1, but elytra with basal third flavous, bounded posterioi'ly by a 

 dark fascia (often ill-defined), beyond which the derm is again pale, although 

 not as pale as the basal portion. 



3. Like 1, but dark parts of elytra consist of a large triangular spot about 

 the middle of each, dilated to the side and with its most acute point directed to 

 the suture. On many specimens of this form the space about the scutellum and 

 apex is more or less obscurely infuscated; the triangles vary considerably in in- 

 tensity and sharpness of definition. 



3a. Elytra as on Form 3 with the markings sharply limited but head, includ- 

 ing antennae and prothorax entirely pale. 



4. Like 1, but elytra entirely pale except for an infuscation (invisible from 

 above) on the middle of each side. On many specimens of this form the greater 

 portion of the iDrothorax is pale. 



5. Head dark, sometimes only moderately so, prothorax almost or entirely 

 pale, elytra as on Form 4. The most abundant South Australian form of the 

 male. 



6. Head and prothorax black, elytra pale except narrowly at suture and on 

 sides. 



7. Upper siirface entirely pale, the elytra paler than the head and prothorax, 

 these being pale eastaneous. A rare form which could be easily overlooked from 

 its resemblance to the common form of the female. 



The females usually have the upper surface entirely pale, the elytra paler 

 than the head and prothorax, these being of a pale eastaneous; but frequently 

 the head is darker (sometimes almost black) than the prothorax; on many of 

 them the abdomen is pale. In general appearance they are close to the females 

 (and sometimes the males) of several other species, and it does not appear to be 

 desirable to number them. 



From Victoria I have seen males of Forms 3a, 5 and 7. 



In Tasmania the common form is 1, biit the black (as is usual on Tasmanian 

 insects compared with those from the mainland) is more intense, the prothorax 

 is often entirely black and the flavous spots on the elytra are more strongly 

 contrasted. Form 3 is common, and Form 2 also occurs there. Tasmanian 

 females are usually darker than mainland ones, on many of them the head and 

 prothorax being deep black, and occasionally the sides of the elytra also in- 

 fuscated. 



In Western Australia, Form 1 is fairly numerous, but the humeral spots 

 are of a dingier shade than on specimens from South Australia and Tasmania, 

 and the prothorax is usually entirely black; on only two, of the many before me, 

 the basal half of the prothorax is of a rather bright red. Form 2 occurs there 

 but the space beyond the median fascia is more obscure than on South Australian 

 specimens. Form 4 also occurs there, the specimens being usually very dingy. 

 The females usually have the head black, or dark brown, the prothorax reddish 

 or eastaneous, and the elytra flavous but with a brownish shade; occasionally the 

 front of the prothorax is infuscated, and on some specimens the sides of the 

 elytra as on Form 4; three females appear at first, except that the elytra are 

 shining, to be rather brightly coloured males of Form 1. I have seen the two 

 following forms of the males only from Western Australia. 



8. Upper surface entirely black, a faint dilution on the shoulders usually 

 indicating the position of the spots as on Form 1, but even this sometimes en- 

 tirely absent. A very common form. 



