146 The Queensland Natukalist. Vol. 1. 
violascens — a female individual. This phasmid has been 
of very rare occurrence for a number of years past, although 
formerly by no means a scarce species. It illustrates very 
well the remarkable dissimilarity often occurring between 
the male and female insects in the phasmid group, the 
male having violet and the female red under-wings, and 
in other respects the two are strikingly distinct. Amongst 
the leaf-eating beetles {Phytophagince) found in this situa- 
tion was a single specimen of a Paropsis, exhibiting strangely 
beautiful colours, and wliich, if not already named, might 
be entitled Paropsis splendidissimus. 
The head, antennse and pro-thorax pale luteous, somewhat trans- 
lucent ; two round black spots on each side of pronotum ; margins of 
elytra and scutellum also luteous ; disk of elytra pale carmine-red, having 
four large oval spots, two basal and two median, of a rich pearl-like lustre, 
with reddish or golden tinge. The two basal spots are bordered externally 
and internally with black ; the median have a black spot basally near the 
suture, and a black band apically. Above the latter’s margin is a crenulated 
black line which borders twc semi-circular similarly coloured spots to those 
on disk. These spots are narrowed out and form a continuous submarginal 
line to apex. Near the apex are two round spots of glowing orange 
bordered with gold, and above these are two oval spots of similar colour, 
also bordered with gold, just touching the median spots before mentioned. 
The under surface is entirely luteous. The insect was beaten by one of 
us (R. Illidge) from a small Eucalypt with large glaucous green leaves. 
Note . — In the present insect, as in other species of Paropsis, the 
characteristic colouration disappears after death. The appearance of the 
living P. splendidissimus may therefore be fittingly appended. 
NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF SPODOPTERA 
MAURITIA (Boisd.), Hampson. 
By Edmund Jarvis. 
Description of Egg. 
Colour : Light pinkish-yellow. 
Form : Somewhat depressed, and laterally carinated 
around middle, with area above carination ribbed longitu- 
dinally. Basal portion slightly flattened where attached 
to leaf, and apical portion hemispherical. 
Horizontal diameter . . f m.m. 
Vertical diameter . . J m.m. 
Description of Larva. 
The following short description of the early moults 
may be useful as an aid to the identification of the young 
larvse : — 
When just hatched : Pale yellow : dorsal area of anterior 
segments pink, with first thoracic segment brown and slightly 
swollen. Head, dark brown and shining. Prolegs, brown. 
Body covered with scattered colourless hairs, arising from 
minute dark blotches. Length, m.m. 
