SOLIFUGAE 



95 



Solifugae can stridulate and make grunting sounds by rubbing 

 together a pair of horny ridges on the inner surface of the cheli- 

 cerae. An enraged Galeodes has been said to 'screech' and this, Hke 



. - ^"^€i 



Fig. 23. Galeodes arabs in defensive attitude. (After Millot and 

 Vachon, 1949.) 



the hissing of scorpions and snakes, is probably a form of advertise- 

 ment and a warning to enemies. 



The only parasite of Solifugae so far recorded is the Indian 

 Pompilid wasp Salius sycophanta which has been seen, after a pro- 

 longed struggle, to sting a Galeodes and drag it to a hole in which 

 were afterwards found no less than five Galeodes all deprived of 

 their legs and with a single tgg attached to the hair on the under- 

 side of their stomachs. All were quite dead except for the last 

 which was still moving feebly. 



Mating habits 



Sexual differences in Solifugae are not striking. The male is 

 smaller and of lighter build than the female, but his legs are longer. 



