PARACOROTOCA AKKRMANl (wARREN), 313 



On each side of the floor of the neck there is a V-shaped 

 sclerite with a very open angle facing outwards (PI. XVII, 

 fig. 25, n. sc). The posterior limb of the V is short and thick 

 and forms either a solid or hollow triangle. The anterior 

 limb is of much greater length; it extends longitudinally, 

 and the tip bears a little bunch of small bristles. Immediately 

 in front of the end of the anterioi- limb there is situated 

 a minute isolated sclerite. 



Thorax. — The prothorax is distinctly marked off from the 

 meso- and metathorax and considerable freedom of move- 

 ment is here possible. The length of the prothorax is about 

 y^Y of that of the whole thorax, 



Prothorax. — The pronotuni is a shield-shaped, convex 

 plate (PL XVI, fig. 3). Dorsally there is a centrally placed 

 shallow concavity with a length rather exceeding half the 

 total length of pronotum. Laterally the pronotum bends 

 downwards and has a somewhat thickened and inturned 

 border. The border is slightly indentated by the socket for 

 the articulation of the 1st thoracic leg. The pronotum is 

 almost glabrous, but a few minute scattered bristles occur. 



The sternal region of the prothorax is not strongly 

 chitinised (fig. 2). The possible homologies of the chitinous 

 pieces are now indicated (PL XVII, fig. 25). The narrow 

 chitinous bar running transversely just in front of the coxal 

 pits may be regarded as presternum [jjrs.). On the inner 

 side of the coxal pit there is a curved chitinous bar continuous 

 with the presternum ; this is probably prosternal sternella 

 {p. St.). Immediately surrounding the inner border of the 

 coxal pit is a separate curved piece which may be the pro- 

 sternal episternite (p. ep.) ; the outer border of the pit is 

 formed by the indented thickened edge of pronotum {pr.). 

 The coxal pits are open behind. On the posterior lateral 

 surface of the prothorax there is a small crescent-shaped 

 sclerite widely separated from the coxal pit ; it may be pros- 

 ternal epimeron {pi). Immediately behind this sclerite there 

 is a large spiracle which is conspicuously present in many 

 Aleocharines. 



