102 



Notes on Australian Eumolpioes (Coleoptera 

 Chrysomelidae), with Descriptions of New 

 Species. 



By Arthur M. Lea, F.E.S., Museum Entomologist. 

 [Contribution from tJie South Australian Museum.] 



[Read April 8, 1915.] 

 Plates V. to VIII. 



The Eumolpides are represented by an abundance of 

 species in most parts of Australia, and many of the species are 

 extremely abundant in specimens, the young foliage of 

 Eucalypti being often considerably injured by them.'i' The 

 species are frequently brilliantly metallic, and often cause 

 young trees to appear to be studded with gems; nevertheless, 

 the Australian members of the subfamily have been greatly 

 neglected, probably on account of the difficulties that must 

 have been experienced by almost every worker in trying to get 

 some ideas as to the generic and super-generic features. 



Baly in 1860 wrote of "The chaotic state of the Eumol- 

 fidae, the crowd of species which remain unnamed and un- 

 arranged in our collections, and the want of generic landmarks. 

 ." At the present time (1915) the subfamily appears 

 to be in a still more chaotic state. The fact seems to be that 

 in the subfamily very few genera have strongly-marked dis- 

 tinguishing features, and this fact should be taken into 

 consideration when the subfamily is again considered as a 

 whole. Thus in checking former descriptions I have examined 

 not only the species of the genus to which a description would 

 apparently refer, but all others of the subfamily(2) ; and this 

 I believe to be essential in many groups of Australian 

 Coleoptera, if it is desired to avoid very extensive synonymy. 

 The absence of constant generic features renders it probable 

 that exception will be taken to many of my generic references ; 

 more particularly in Chj)tor, ('olaspoides, Agetuius, and 

 Geloptera; but it is practically certain that almost every author 

 will attach different values to various combinations of features. 

 In Edusa, for instance, whilst the pubescent species are seldom 

 aberrant, the glabrous ones might have been referred to 



'D With the exception of Geloptero fuhcmdata I know of no 

 species that is .at all seriously destructive to cultivated plants. 



(2) Except Agetinelhi minufa and Platycolaspis australis; but 

 of these I have seen authenticated specimens. 



