192 



punctures, in narrow, deep striae, the striae distinct, but punc- 

 tures almost concealed ; interstices wide, nowhere ridged, with 

 dense and rather coarse but normally quite concealed punc- 

 tures. Basal segment of ahdomen obliquely flattened in 

 middle; apical with a wide impression. Femora stout, 

 edentate. Length, 2^-3 mm. 



9 . Differs in having the rostrum longer, more decidedly 

 narrowed in front of antennae (these inserted not so close to 

 apex) with less clothing, smaller and sparser punctures, and 

 about half of it red ; basal segment of abdomen evenly convex, 

 and apical not impressed. 



Hah. — South Australia (Blackburn's collection and 

 Macieav Museum) ; Murray Bridge (A. M. Lea). Tyr)e, 

 I. 1333. 



This species and tenuirostris and sulfurea are without 

 femoral teeth, and on that account should perhaps be referred 

 to a new genus, but the dentition certainly varies in Diethusa 

 , from feeble to strong, and some have the front femora 

 edentate. Moreover, this species in general appearance is 

 extremely close to some of Diefhusa, and three specimens of it 

 were previously referred to by me as belonging to concinna^ 

 and they certainly look as if they belonged to that species, 

 but the entire absence of femoral dentition is distinctive. On 

 some specimens the majority of the scales are almost brick-red 

 in colour, with the pale spots strongly contrasted; on others 

 most of the scales are of a dingy-ochreous, with the spots but 

 feebly contrasted. On. the prothorax there are no distinct 

 spots, although the clothing in places varies somewhat in 

 colour. 



Diethusa pallidicollis, n. sp. 



Reddish-castaneous. Densely clothed with white or 

 whitish scales, but on most of elytra more or less ochreous 

 or golden. 



Head with dense, concealed punctures. Rostrum rather 

 long, moderately wide from base to antennae (which are in- 

 serted at basal two-fifths), but then narrow and thin to apex; 

 towards base with partially-concealed punctures, se^Darated by 

 narrow ridges, elsewhere with minute punctures. Scape about 

 half the length of funicle and club combined. ProfJiorax 

 strongly transverse, evenly convex; with dense punctures. 

 Ehjtra briefly cordate, distinctly wider than prothorax; with, 

 rows of fairly large more or less concealed punctures in dis- 

 tinct striae : interstices wide, with dense concealed punctures. 

 Under-surface with dense concealed punctures. Basal segment 

 of abdomen convex, as long as three following combined, fifth 

 shallowly impressed at apex. Femora stout, strongly dentate. 

 Length, 3|-4 mm. 



