IDENTIFICATION 



Male: Size is usually small, from 2.3 mm. to 3.6 mm. long 

 and from"l.5 ram. to 2.2 mm. wide. Typical males are easily dis- 

 tinguished within the R. simus group by a combination of characters 

 including broadly sickles"!lape3 adanal shields; sparse, almost ob- 

 solete, shallow, scutal punctations; distinct lateral and posterior 

 grooves; short, converging cervical pits; pearshaped body; and 

 slight dorsal process of coxa I. 



The several fairly large series of specimens in the present 

 collection and other East African series that have been studied 

 show considerable variation among individuals, though always one 

 or more of the distinctive features of the species are retained. 

 The posterior grooves may be very faint. In small, weak spec- 

 imens the lateral grooves may be more shallow than usual or they 

 may be indicated by only a row of punctations. In specimens with 

 exceedingly small adanal shields, the characteristic sickleshape 

 is frequently reduced. The pointed dorsal projection of coxa I 

 is very small and in a number of specimens it is reduced to merely 

 a blunt hump. 



Female ; This sex averages 3. A tuti. long and 2.0 mm. wide; it 

 ranges from 2.5 mm. to 3.^ mm. long and from 1.5 mm. to 2.5 mm. 

 wide. The scutum is about one-fourth longer than wide; its poste- 

 rior margin is sinuous, with a slight medial protrusion; eyes are 

 pale and flat; lateral grooves almost reach the posterior scutal 

 margin; cervical grooves extend posteriorly for about half the 

 scutal length. Scutal punctations are sparse and superficial; 

 interstitial punctations are usually absent, but some fine ones 

 may be present with a few larger punctations in lateral grooves. 

 The great length of the scutum in relation to its width distin- 

 guishes females from those of R. s. simus , R. s. senegalensis, 

 Ind R. bequaerti. This character'is an especially important one 

 in siecira^ns in which interstitial punctation is more apparent 

 than is common for R. simpsoni . 



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