247 



their pubescence in some lights appears to have a vague 

 greenish gloss. 



All these varieties (and there are others before me) have 

 the hind tibiae with three oblique ridges, the basal joint of 

 the hind tarsi with three, the second with two, and the third 

 (although these are sometimes ill-defined) also with two. 



MORDELLISTENA BRUNNEIPENNIS, Macl. 



Some time ago in referring this species to Mordellistena, 

 from Mor delta, I stated that it was possibly the same as 

 austrinu, but this is not the case, and it is really a very 

 distinct species. It is unusually elongate, black, the elytra 

 flavous, with the sides and suture narrowly infuscated. The 

 oblique ridges of the hind tibiae and tarsi of the type are 

 somewhat obscured by dirt, and the tip of the abdomen and 

 of the pygidium are broken off. 



Mordellistena concolor, Lea. 



A specimen of this species, with somewhat paler hind 

 spurs than on the type, was in the Blackburn collection, from 

 Oodnadatta. 



Mordellistena flavicans, Macl. (formerly Mordella). 



The type of this species is without its hind tarsi, but is 

 undoubtedly a Mordellistena, as the hind tibiae have three 

 conspicuous oblique black ridges. The apparent dark portion 

 of its elytra consists of a subovate infuscate blotch touching 

 the tips, but not the sides ; but after a careful examination 

 I am satisfied that it is simply due to the folded black wings 

 showing through the semitransparent derm. There are eleven 

 other specimens in the South Australian Museum (all from 

 the Cairns district) which appear to have the tips of the 

 elytra feebly infuscated, and one with the apparent markings 

 of the type, but on lifting up their elytra the apparent infus- 

 cation is clearly seen to be due to the wings. These specimens 

 have two oblique black ridges on each of the basal joints of 

 the hind tarsi; the longer spine on the hind tibiae is fully 

 twice the length of the other and about three-fourths the 

 length of the basal joint of the tarsi. The pygidium is very 

 thin and slightly longer than the hind tarsi. The size varies 

 from 2 \ to 3 \ mm. ; Macleay gave the length of the type as 

 1 line, but that was exclusive of the pygidium. 



Mordellistena obscuripennis, Macl. (formerly Mordella). 



The type of this species has three oblique black ridges 

 on the hind tibiae, three on the basal joint of the hind tarsi, 



