Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia Volume II Part 55

Hesthesis cingulatus (Kirby) Newman. Annals of Natural History 5 page 17.

Molorchas cingulatus, Kirby, Linnean Transactions 12 page 472.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius) Newman, Annals of Natural History 5 page 19.

Stenocorus semipunctatus, Fabricius Systema Entomologiae 180 8 Syst. El.

2 306 8. Donovan Epitome etc. figure.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Hebecerus marginicollis, Dejean.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Bardistus cibarius, Newman, Entomologist March 1841 Number 5 page 80.

Ill.u.s.tration 21 Insects 4.

Of a yellowish bay colour, the head, thorax, and basal part of the three first joints of the antennae darker; the elytra soft, margined, with three parallel raised lines, not reaching the tip, the outer is on the side and not so distinct as the other two; there is also a short one running from the base of the elytron near the scutellum, and soon forming a margin to the suture. The antennae are slightly hairy outside. (In the accompanying figure they are represented much too short.) There are a few short hairs at the rounded tip of the elytra.

Habitat King George's Sound, where it seems to be very abundant, forming a favourite article of food with the natives who call it Barde; it is eaten in its imago as well as its larva and pupa states.

"It is found in the Xanthorrhoea. The grubs are white, have a fragrant aromatic flavour, and form a favourite article of food amongst the natives. They are eaten either raw or roasted, and frequently form a sort of dessert after native repasts. The presence of these grubs in a gra.s.s-tree is thus ascertained. If the top of one of these trees is observed to be dead, the natives give it a few sharp kicks with their feet, when, if it contains any Barde, it begins to give way; if this takes place, they push it over, and breaking the tree in pieces with their hammers, extract the Barde." Captain Grey's ma.n.u.script.

Paropsis, Oliv.

There are several beautiful species of this genus found at King George's Sound, where they seem to take the place of the Tortoise beetles (Ca.s.sididae). When alive, they have, like many of the Ca.s.sidae, the most brilliant l.u.s.tre, their resplendent colours disappearing soon after death.

Coccinella tongataboae, Boisduval Voyage de l'Astrolabe Ent. it. page 595 plate 8 figure 24.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

ORTHOPTERA.

Blatta subverrucosa, new species.

Apterous, oval; thorax in front semicircular, shrouding the head; posterior angle sharp, rounded behind, the frontal edge bent slightly back, and yellowish; the upper surface brown, rather obscure, the surface irregularly raised, below deep s.h.i.+ning pitchy brown. Abdomen yellowish brown, above sprinkled with dark brown, the edges of each segment with several small wart-like prominences; two first segments being also s.h.a.greened at the sides, beneath pitchy brown, segments at the base black with green reflections; the femora are pitchy brown; the tibiAe pale yellowish with black spines; the tarsi of a deeper yellow; head dark brown, the trophi and a narrow line on the cheeks yellowish; antennae somewhat ferruginous.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

A large apterous species.

Mantis latistylus, Serville, var. Orthopt. Suites de Buffon page 179.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Mantis rubroc.o.xata, Serville ? Orthopt. page 203.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Acheta ? marginipennis, new species.

Thorax black with a yellow line above; head as wide as the thorax, with a blunted projection in front between the antennae, which are very long and situated in a groove in front of the eyes, and have their basal joint very large. No ocelli visible. Thorax wider than long, somewhat narrower in front than behind. Hemelytra very transparent, longer than the abdomen, lying flat upon one another, the outer margin bent down; the horizontal portion has many irregular nerves; there are two longitudinal nerves at the angle formed by the bent down outer margin, which extend from base almost to the tip, the s.p.a.ces between these nerves being of a yellowish colour, the general colour greyish, there are several oblique parallel veins on the bent down margin; wings very short; posterior legs very long; femora much thickened, brown, at the base very pale; a.n.a.l appendages very long and hairy. Somewhat allied to the Acheta arachnoides of Westwood, figured in the Naturalist's Library, Introduction to Entomology, volume 1 plate 6.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Tympanophora pellucida, new species. Ill.u.s.tration 22 Insects 5.

Antennae very long, arising from between the eyes, labrum heart-shaped, eyes very large, prominent; ocelli 3, the first the largest, situated between the antennae, the two others being placed on the sides of a slight groove behind them. Prothorax widest behind, in front not so wide as the head; abdomen small, two of the segments on the back with projecting k.n.o.bs; a.n.a.l appendages in the male short cylindrical, slightly hooked inwardly, furnished at the end with two teeth, the surface is rough with short bristly hairs. The elytra are much longer than the wing, which again are at least twice the length of the abdomen; the first and second pair of legs are rather stout, the tibiae having two rows of strong spines on the underside; the hind legs are long and slender, the under surface of the tibiae being but slightly denticulated. The head is green, the front inclining to yellow, the crown is reddish brown, eyes green, ocelli yellow, two basal joints of antennae green, the remainder rust coloured; prothorax green, brown behind, with a broadish line of same colour down the middle; body rusty green, each segment with a dusky ring; elytra pale green with few longitudinal nerves, but many cross ones; wings of a very pale green; anterior legs of a pale brown, femora of second and third pair green; the tibiae pale brown, the tarsi and joints darker.

Habitat King George's Sound.

This genus is not far removed from AEcanthus Serville; when the wings are closed it somewhat resembles a species of the African genus Pneumora; (the figure should be reversed.)

Saga denticulata, new species.

Head yellowish green with a brownish tint; the cheeks below the eyes and an irregular mark above the clypeus brownish in some specimens; labrum yellow, in some at the base brown; mandibles pale at base, succeeded by a reddish brown hue, the cutting edges being black and s.h.i.+ning; antennae lower half green, terminal portion brownish green; prothorax without transverse grooves, the surface with minute wart-like prominences; elytra (in male) pale green with darker reticulations, the inner edge with a rosy hue; abdomen of a dark dull green above, beneath pale; legs green, changing into yellowish and brownish; the two rows of spines on the underside of the femora and tibiae short and blackish; a.n.a.l appendages in the male knife-shaped, with a broad tooth at base. The ovipositor of female has the edges quite smooth beneath.

This species is but half the size of the Saga serrata.

Inhabits King George's Sound.

This species belongs to Serville's second division, or may possibly form a third, as in the males there exist rudiments of wings. Each of the elytra has a clear s.p.a.ce like a tympanum; the upper part of the prothorax is smooth, the sides and posterior part are very slightly bent back, the last segment of abdomen notched at the end.

Tropinotus cinnamomeus, Serville Orthopt. page 620.

Gryllus australasiae, Leach Zool. Misc. 1 page 56 tab. 24 ?

Habitat King George's Sound.

Calliptamus carbonarius, Serville Orthopt. page 691.

Habitat King George's Sound, Captain George Grey.

Calliptamus brunneus, new species.

Head smooth, of a light brown; antennae somewhat red, at the tip brownish; ocelli yellow; the four facial keels distinct; thorax light brown behind with foveated impressions, amidst which arise a few longish prominences, transverse grooves feeble, dorsal keel very distinct. Elytra longer than the body, slightly opaque, light brown, with a few indistinct spots; wings scarcely as long as the elytra, with a greenish hue, except at the tip which is brownish; abdomen brown, s.h.i.+ning, palest beneath, segments keeled above, posterior tibiae of a bright red, sides at the base yellowish, spines black, posterior femora with two brown bands on the upper edge about the middle.

Inhabits King George's Sound.

HYMENOPTERA.

ONCORHINUS, Shuckard.