13 



DESCRIPTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN CURCULIONI D/E, WITH 

 NOTES ON PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED SPECIES. 



Part VIII. 



By Arthur M. Lea. 



[Read June 7, 1910.] 



SUBFAMILY OTIORHYNCHIDES. 



Merimnetes fagi, n. sp. 



Reddish-brown, appendages paler. Densely clothed with 

 fawn-coloured scales, frequently with a golden or golden- 

 green gloss, and usually mottled or 'spotted with brown. In 

 addition with numerous suberect setae, varying from white 

 to black, and usually forming a single row on each elytral 

 interstice. 



Rostrum with three carinse, of which the median one is 

 sometimes entirely concealed. First joint of funicle almost 

 as long as second and third combined. Prothorax 

 granulate-punctate, or somewhat vermiculate. Elytra ovate; 

 with series of large, partially-concealed punctures ; suture, 

 third and fifth interstices feebly raised. Length (excluding 

 rostrum), 4^-6J mm. 



Hob. — Tasmania : Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, Sheffield, 

 Stonor, Mole Creek (A. M. Lea). 



In general appearance rather close to australis, but 

 smaller and somewhat wider, antennae somewhat shorter, etc. 



The bulk of the specimens appear to have the derm of a 

 reddish-brown, but occasionally it is almost black. On the 

 prothorax there is usually a rather feeble dark median stripe, 

 and a shorter one on each side of the base. On the elytra 

 the spots or mottlings are generally rather numerous, but not 

 sharply defined or constant in position ; there are generally 

 also some dark spots on the abdomen. Most of the specimens 

 were taken from the so-called native myrtle Fagus Cunning- 

 hami. 



Numerous specimens from Waratah and two from Ulver- 

 stone differ in having the elytral setae less erect, but I can 

 find no features sufficient to be regarded as of specific im- 

 portance. 



In this and all the following species the rostrum is 

 separated from the head by a transverse suture (sometimes 

 almost concealed). Between the eyes there is a narrow longi- 

 tudinal impression (also more or less concealed). The males 

 differ from the females in being smaller, with the prothorax 



