182 



Notes on Cryptorhynchides Coleoptera Cur- 

 culionid>e) in the south australian museum, 

 WITH Descriptions of New Species. 



By Arthur M. Lea, Museum Entomologist, Adelaide. 



[Read September 11, 1913.] 



The subfam.ily Cryptorhynchides contains a larger 

 number of Australian weevils than any other. In the 

 heavily-timbered parts of Australia, and especially in Queens- 

 land, they occur in amazing numbers; but as most of the 

 species are strictly nocturnal in habits, are mostly of dingy 

 colours, and frequently of small size, they are usually passed 

 over by collectors, unless specially looked for. 



Till recently there were but few species of the subfamily 

 in the Museum, but that institution having acquired the 

 major portion of the late Rev. T. Blackburn's collection, in 

 which were many species of the subfamily, and having myself 

 taken many species on a recent trip to Queensland, I have 

 l)een enabled to describe many new genera and species of the 

 subfamily. During the period when the descriptions were 

 l)eing drawn up some specimens from private collections were 

 also examined, so that, although the types of all the new 

 species remain in the Museum, many of the locality records 

 are based on other than Museum specimens. 



In addition to the species recorded or described here, 

 there are many others in the collection, but as there was 

 nothing fresh to add regarding these, either as to peculiarities 

 of the specimens or as to fresh Ipcalities, it was not considered 

 advisable to record them. 



Melanterius hybridus, n. sp. 



S . Reddish-castaneous, prothorax and under-surface 

 frequently more or less infuscate. Rather densely clothed 

 with scales varying from whitish to pale-ochreous ; under- 

 surface and legs with white scales. 



Eyes separated almost the width of base of rostrum. 

 Rostrum long and thin ; with distinct punctures in feeble 

 rows behind antennae, smaller and more crowded in front of 

 same. Scape thin, fully as long as funicle, inserted one-third 

 from apex of rostrum; first joint of funicle as long as second 

 and third combined. Prothorax feebly transverse; with 

 dense, partially-concealed punctures. Elytra oblong-cordate, 

 base moderately trisinuate; with rows of rather large, 

 partially-concealed punctures, in moderate striae; interstices 



