230 



Readily distinguished, by the bright red prothorax, from- 

 all other species having the elytra metallic with pale sides 

 and apex; in general appearance it is close to elegantulus, 

 but that species has the elytra entirely dark. The dark part 

 of the head is basal, but it is usually triangularly encroached 

 upon by the red, or it may even be divided into two; tha 

 pale portions of the elytra (which are more flavous than red) 

 are lateral and apical, the apical portion occupies from about 

 one-sixth to about one-fourth of the length; the infuscation 

 of the abdomen is usually confined to the second and third 

 segments, but sometimes extends to the base of its intercoxal 

 process. The incurvature of the prosternal process is rather 

 deeper than usual. Onp specimen has the head entirely red, 

 the dark portion of the elytra reduced in size, and the 

 infuscation of the abdomen and tarsi feeble. Another 

 specimen has the pale portions of the elytra reduced to very 

 narrow lateral and apical edgings, and its abdomen, except 

 for the tip, is almost entirely black. There are se^en mal^ 

 before me, but I have been unable to identify the female 

 amongst the many species examined ; as the species is 

 certainly close to elegantvlus the female may have the 

 prothorax entirely dark : but the following species (which is 

 also allied) has the prothorax red in both sexes. 



B. Elytra entirely dark, hut prothorax not. 



DiTROPIDUS SEMICRUDUS, n. Sp. 



d . Head, basal half of antennae, palpi (tips excepted),, 

 prothorax (extreme base excepted), and legs (the tarsi usually 

 partly infuscated) red, elsewhere black, but the elytra with 

 a bronzy, or slightly coppery gloss. Under-surface and legs 

 with sparse, white pubescence; head almost glabrous. 



Head with small and fairly dense but not at all confluent 

 punctures; median line rather slightly impressed. Eyes 

 rather widely separated. Frofhorax at base more than twice 

 as wide as the median length, sides strongly rounded; with 

 very small and comparatively sparse punctures. Elytra 

 suboblong; with rows of rather small punctures, becoming 

 larger and set in rather deep striae on the sides; interstices 

 with very minute punctures. Length {S , 9)? 2'75-3-25 mm. 



9 • Differs in having thinner club and legs, elytra less 

 narrowed posteriorly, and abdomen larger and with a large 

 apical fovea. 



Bah. — Victoria: Alps and Dividing Range (Blackburn's 

 collection, No. 4815) ; Tasmania : Hobart, Mount Wellington, 

 Huon River, and Sheffield (A. M. Lea); South Australia: 

 Kangaroo Island (J. G. O. Tepper). Type, I. 4403. 



