189 



Melanterius tkistis, Lea. 



Two specimens from Hergott Springs certainly appear to 

 belong to but one species, but in my table of the genus the 

 female would be placed with ronipacfifs and castaneus, as its 

 second and third elytral interstices are not triangularly raised 

 posteriorly ; while the male would be placed with trisfis. The 

 species is much narrower than compact us or castaneus, and 

 possibly is not tristis, as the elytral punctures are sparser a.nd 

 smaller, and the interstices are less conspicuously or not at all 

 carinated. It seems best at present, however, to regard the 

 specimens as aberrant ones of tristis. 



Melanterius aptcalis, Lea. 



A male from Cairns differs from the type in having the 

 spur at the apex of each of the middle tibiae notched, so that 

 from some directions it appears as two short spurs : the spurs 

 on the hind tibiae are also feebly notched, but on the front pair 

 they are simple. 



DiETHUSA SUTURALIS, n. Sp. 



d- Reddish-castaneous ; head, prothorax, and elytra 

 sometimes infuscate. Moderately clothed with reddish or 

 ochreous scales, more or less feebly variegated : under-surfa.ce 

 mostly with whitish scales, but with a line of whitish setae. 



Bosti'um rather long, thin, and almost parallel-sided ; 

 behind antennae with punctures in lines, and leaving a feeble 

 median carina. Scape thin, about the length of funicle, 

 inserted one-third from apex of rostrum : first joint of funicle 

 slightly longer than second and third combined. Prothorax 

 lightly transverse ; with dense punctures. Ehjtra subcordate, 

 base moderately trisinuate ; with large, partially-concealed 

 punctures ; interstices wide, the first acutely carinated through- 

 out, third and fifth moderately ridged on posterior half, the 

 lateral ones almost throughout. Metasterninn and basal seg- 

 ment of abdomen with a sulcus commencing almost at base of 

 former, and continued almost to apex of latter, and containing 

 the line of setae; apical segment with a shallow impression. 

 Femora stout, strongly dentate. Length, 4-4^ mm. 



Eah. — South Australia (Blackburn's collection). Type, 

 I. 1330. 



Structurally very close to hiackhurni, but with clothing of 

 npper-surface very different. On the lower-surface the peculiar 

 median clothing also extends to a greater length. In this 

 respect, and also in its acutely bicarinated suture, it agrees 

 with metasternalis, but that species is of more compact form, 

 and with prettily-variegated clothing, its second abdominal 



