187 



A very distinct species, allied to aratus, and with very 

 similar abdomen, but somewhat larger, legs longer, elytral 

 interstices more acutely carinated, and clothing of elytra in 

 more numerous spots, etc. The teeth of the four hind femora 

 are large and obliquely truncate at apex, on the others they 

 are much smaller and acute. 



Melanterius niveodispersus, n. sp. 



Dark reddish-brown, in parts (especially the under- 

 surface) almost black; antennae reddish. Moderately densely 

 clothed with light-brown or pale-ochreous scales, variegated 

 with white. 



Head with dense, partially-concealed punctures. Eyes 

 rather large, separated less than width of rostrum at base- 

 Rostrum rather long and thin, almost parallel-sided; with. 

 rather dense but not very large punctures, partially concealed 

 only at base, and on sides near base; with a feeble median 

 ridge. Scape inserted about two-fifths from apex of rostrum,-. 

 shorter than funicle ; first joint of funicle longer than second. 

 Frotlhorax rather small and convex, sides strongly rounded,. 

 apex half the width of base ; with dense, partially-concealed 

 punctures. Elytra subcordate, much wider than prothorax,. 

 sides almost parallel to beyond the middle : with rows of large, 

 partially-concealed punctures, alternate insterstices con- 

 spicuously ridged along middle, from near base to near apex. 

 Basal segment of abdomen convex in middle. Femora stout,. 

 moderately dentate ; terminal hook of tibiae small. Length,. 

 5 mm.. 



^^6.— Western Australia: Cue (H. W. Brown). Type,. 

 I. 1541. 



Allied to for'uhis and co^tifennis, but alternate inter- 

 stices much more conspicuously elevated ; and clothing, to the 

 naked eye, more greyish. In outlines it is slightly closer to 

 the form.er than to the latter. On the elytra the white scales 

 are fairly numerous on the basal third and towards the apex, 

 but on the rest of the upper-surface they are sparse and scat- 

 tered singly. On the under-surface and legs they are mostly 

 whitish, but on the sides of the former they are somewhat 

 darker. The type is probably a female. 



Melanterius solitus. Lea. 



At the time of description of this species I had but a single- 

 specimen to examine. The species, however, is abundant on, 

 species of acacia in South Australia (Port Lincoln, Blanche- 

 towm, Moonta, Kangaroo Island). 



