108 



middle by deep sutures. Abdomen moderately large,, sutures 

 distinct, that between first and second segments feeble but 

 traceable across middle, first as long as second and third com- 

 bined, intercoxal process not very wide ; third and fourth com- 

 bined longer than second or fifth. Legs moderately long; 

 posterior coxae touching elytra; femora not stout, feebly 

 grooved, edentate, posterior just passing elytra; tibiae feebly 

 compressed, almost straight ; tarsi long, thin, and shining, 

 third joint very little wider than second and bilobed for about 

 half its length, fourth elongate. Ovate, moderately convex, 

 squamose, nontuberculate, apterous. 



Closely allied to Paleticus, but the femora feebly grooved 

 and edentate, the mesosternal receptacle U-shaped; the ab- 

 domen with the apical segments not suddenly narrowed by 

 elytra, the suture between first and second traceable across 

 middle, and the combined length of the third and fourth 

 greater than that of the second or fifth. 



Tepalicus semicalvus, n. sp. 



Black, antennae and tarsi of a rather pale-red. Densely 

 clothed with muddy-brown scales, thickly interspersed with 

 dark fawn-coloured erect scales that form feeble fascicles on 

 the prothorax and elytra. 



Head slightly convex, semicircularly depressed towards 

 and naked at base; ocular fovea not traceable. Rostrum 

 long, rather strongly curved, parallel-sided ; with strong- 

 punctures in grooves on basal half, apical half polished and 

 minutely punctate. Scape inserted at apical third : second joint 

 of funicle considerably longer than first, the others transverse. 

 Prothorax moderately transverse, base strongly bisinuate ; 

 punctures small, sparse, and entirely concealed ; from middle 

 to apex a distinctly elevated but narrow and squamose carina. 

 Elytra subcordate, about once and one-half the width and 

 twice and one-half the length of prothorax, base trisinuate, 

 shoulders rounded, behind shoulders subparallel to apical 

 third ; with rather large round punctures, not very close 

 together, and subgeminate in arrangement, becoming very 

 small posteriorly ; alternate interstices irregularly and very 

 feebly raised. Mctasternum with a transverse median im- 

 pression, notched in the middle anteriorly. Intercoxal pro- 

 cess of abdomen with a semicircular impression on each side : 

 punctures (if present) entirely concealed. Length, 7 mm. ; 

 rostrum, 2 \ mm. ; width, 4 mm. 



Hah. — Queensland: Cairns (Macleay Museum). 



In appearance this species rather strongly resembles 

 Paleticus frontalis. The prothorax could scarcely be called 



