428 



often difficult to be sure of this point. In Chalcolampra,. 

 for the entire width behind each of the front coxae, there- 

 is a narrow process whose narrowest portion is obliquely cleft ; 

 the process is fairly distinct on many of the larger species, 

 but to see it clearly on some of the smaller specimens some 

 manipulation is necessary. There is a curious marked-off 

 division on each side of the abdomen behind the hind coxa, 

 much as in many Goccinellidae; in that family they are some- 

 times called abdominal lamellae or plates, and the term, 

 being a convenient one, I shall call them abdominal lamellae;, 

 smaller but somewhat similar lamellae are to be seen in the- 

 ground-frequenting species of Chalcolatnpra, but are prac- 

 tically absent from 18-guttata and allied species; they are 

 also present on Cyclonoda. The clypeal suture is sometimes 

 represented by a distinct but scarcely-impressed line, but 

 usually by a more or less distinct and isolated fovea on each 

 side. The antennae vary from moderately short and with 

 fairly-wide subapical joints to decidedly long and thin. There- 

 is a slight swelling about the base of each claw, but it does 

 not appear to be in any way dentate, so that it must be 

 regarded as simple. Typical species, blackburni. 



Geomela blackburni, n. sp. 



Black, with a coppery gloss; five or six basal joints of 

 antennae, legs, and tip of abdomen more or less reddish. 



Head with numerous distinct punctures between eyes and 

 very feeble ones elsewhere ; with a small round foveae on each 

 side in front. Antennae slightly passing base of prothorax, 

 first joint stout, third as long as fourth arid fifth combined, 

 seventh to eleventh rather wide, the seventh to tenth trans- 

 verse. Prothorax more than thrice as wide as the median 

 length, base gently sinuous; with conspicuous punctures on 

 sides and across apex, but very minute elsewhere. Scutelhtrn 

 with rounded sides. Elytra with sides gently rounded and 

 continuous with those of prothorax ; with regular rows of 

 fairly large punctures; interstices with minute punctures. 

 Inter-coxal process of prosternum elevated and wedge-shaped 

 in front. A bdomen with basal lamellae lar^e, each with a 

 narrow process projecting obliquely backwards and terminated 

 some distance from apex of segment. Length, 2^-3 mm. 



Hah. — New South Wales: Windsor, Sydney; Victoria: 

 Emerald; South Australia: Mount Gambier (A. M. Lea), 

 Lucindale (B. A. Feuerheerdt). Type, I. 3393. 



The abdomen is usually pale only at the tip, but some- 

 times the red is obscurely continued on the sides and towards 

 the base ; the sides of the elytra are also occasionally diluted 



