136 



of the prothorax is semitransparent, allowing part of the head 

 to appear as a dark subapical line ; but this also will probably 

 disappear in time. There are nine specimens under examina- 

 tion, but only one male. 



Laius filamentarius, n. sp. 

 PI. xiii., figs. 17, 40. 

 d • Reddish-flavous ; head (except apical third) and 

 elytral markings bright metallic-blue (or purple) ; scutellum, 

 mesosternum, metasternum, parts of abdomen, legs, and 

 seven apical joints of antennae black, with a more or less 

 distinct bluish gloss. Upper-surface with numerous long, 

 upright, blackish hairs, head, under-surface, and legs 

 moderately densely pubescent. 



Head flattened between eyes, with a shallow depression 

 in front and another across base; punctures inconspicuous. 

 Eyes rather large and prominent. Antennae moderately 

 long, first joint stout, dilated to near apex, second large and 

 distorted, convex on lower-surface, irregularly concave on 

 upper, with two long, thin filaments (each about the length 

 of the first joint) projecting obliquely backwards from the 

 front edge, the edge between them semicircularly notched, 

 the following joints all longer than wide, and not serrated, 

 tenth distinctly longer than ninth. Prothorax strongly trans- 

 verse, widest at apical third, with a shallow depression near 

 base; punctures very sparse and small. Elytra at base 

 scarcely wider than widest part of prothorax, sides feebly 

 dilated to near apex; with crowded and rather coarse, 

 sharply-defined punctures, becoming much smaller and 

 sparser on most of the metallic parts. Front tarsi with two 

 basal joints closely applied together. Length ( 3 , 9 )> 5-6 mm. 



9 • Differs in having the head smaller, with less promi- 

 nent eyes, depressions less distinct, with an almost isolated 

 flavous spot in front ; antennae with first joint thinner, second 

 much smaller and simple (about as long as third and fourth 

 combined), elytra less parallel-sided, and in the tarsi. 



Hab. — Queensland: Emerald (twelve specimens, A. M. 

 Lea); New South Wales: Albury (Blackburn's collection). 

 Type, I. 7547. 



In general appearance like large specimens of belhilus, 

 but at once distinguished from that species (as from all others 

 of the genus) by the two long filaments on the second joint 

 of the male antennae (the male of hackeri has two long 

 processes there, but they are of very different shape, and 

 that species differs in many other respects). Part of the 

 basal joint of the male antennae is blackish, and the second 

 joint has a narrow blackish line (invisible from above). The 



