234 



MORDELLA IRIDEA, n. sp. ♦ 



PI. xv., figs. 98, 132. 



Black ; base of antennae and spurs of hind tibiae very 

 obscurely diluted with red. White pubescence margining base 

 of pronotum, on scutellum, forming three distinct spots on 

 each elytron, and spots on under-surface. 



Rather compact. Scutellum small, sides strongly rounded. 

 Pygidium elongate, its tip truncated. Antennae with fifth- 

 tenth joints rather wide and strongly serrated. Spurs to hind 

 tibiae of considerably different lengths. Length, 3|-5 mm. 



Hab. — Queensland: Cairns district (F. P. Dodd). Type y 

 I. 6002. 



In genera] appearance close to the variety of the pre- 

 ceding species, but the scutellum of different shape, without 

 a spot on the elytra immediately behind it, and the pubescence 

 of the metasternum (fig. 132) different. In some lights the 

 head and pronotum are brilliantly iridescent, and the elytra 

 and under parts have a bluish iridescence. The submedian 

 spot on each elytron is slightly nearer the subapical than the 

 sub-basal one, between it and the sub-basal one, but slightly 

 to the side, there are a few silvery hairs, but scarcely condensed 

 to form a spot, although present on both sides of the three 

 specimens under examination ; on each side of the metasternum 

 there is a spot quite disconnected with the white markings 

 of the mesosternum and abdomen ; on the latter there is a 

 white spot on each side of each segment, but not in the 

 middle. 



MORDELLA METASTERNALIS, n. Sp. 



PI. xv., fig. 99. 



Black ; some specimens with base of antennae very 

 obscurely diluted with red. Head with silvery-grey or silvery 

 pubescence continued on to front of pronotum and usually 

 forming two feeble oblique median spots ; distinct silvery 

 pubescence margining base of pronotum, on scutellum, and 

 forming spots on elytra and on under-surface. 



Compact. Scutellum subtriangular, apex rounded. 

 Pygidium elongate, the tip rather blunt. Antennae with 

 fifth to tenth joints moderately wide. Spurs to hind tibiae 

 slightly unequal. Length, 4J-5 mm. 



Hab. — Queensland: Cairns district (F. P. Dodd). Type, 

 I. 5899. 



In some respects close to obsoleta, but elytra with the 

 median fascia on all the (eleven) specimens in the Museum 

 broken up into disconnected spots, and the sides of the meta- 

 sternum without white pubescence. On most of them the 

 head and pronotum are brilliantly iridescent. The two median 



