204 



Very distinct from most species of the genus by the con- 

 spicuously-mucronate pygidium of the male. On the male 

 the abdomen is longitudinally depressed from base to apex, 

 and is terminated by a conspicuously-elevated and almost 

 spiniform process ; at a glance this appears to be the projecting 

 tip of the penis-sheath, but when it can be clearly viewed 

 from behind it is seen to be attached to the derm, and not 

 to proceed from the anal opening. It appears to be composed 

 of compacted setae, and is sometimes bifid ; its occasional ab- 

 sence appears to be due to abrasion. The depression is some- 

 times clothed throughout its length, but is usually partly 

 glabrous. The elytra of the male are usually of one shade 

 of colour throughout, but occasionally are darker on the sides. 

 His prothorax is occasionally diluted with red at the sides 

 and base ; and his legs vary from a rather dingy red to quite 

 black, with the exception of the claws and tibial spurs. 

 Usually the smaller specimens of both sexes have the lateral 

 tubercles of the propygidium more distinct, and the smaller 

 males have the apical mucro more conspicuous, than on the 

 larger specimens. A co-type male, and some specimens from 

 Tarn worth, have the prothorax almost as long as wide, with 

 almost parallel sides, but on most specimens it is more trans- 

 verse, and the sides are evenly rounded. Two females, 

 mounted on the same card as the co-type male, have the meta- 

 sternum but little darker than the abdomen, but on the others 

 it is almost black, or at least infuscate. 



MlCROVALGUS APICALIS, n. Sp. 



d . Black, elytra almost flavous, but slightly darker at 

 sides, tip of scutellum and parts of legs obscurely diluted with 

 red, moderately clothed with rather thin, whitish scales, 

 stouter and denser on propy- and pygidium than elsewhere, 

 and seriate on elytra. 



Prothorax almost as long as wide, sides gently rounded. 

 Pygidium with a stout process projected backwards at tip. 

 Abdomen with a wide longitudinal depression, deeper on apical 

 segment than elsewhere, near its apex a transverse ridge 

 crowned with ferruginous hairs, becoming fasciculate on sides. 

 Length, 3^-3^ mm. 



Hab. — New South Wales: National Park, Galston (A. M. 

 Lea) . 



Decidedly close to the preceding species, but the mucro 

 stouter, and abdominal fovea with a transverse ridge crowned 

 with ferruginous hairs. On one specimen the mucro is trun- 

 cate at its tip, on the other it is widely triangular ; but as 

 in all other characters they agree they would appear to be 

 conspeciflc. 



