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TIUNSACTIONS 



BA/T 



SOUTH AF1!K'A>; rHILOSdl'HICAL SOCIETY. 



Vol. XII. 



DESCKIPTIVE C-^T.\LOGUE OF THE COLEOPTEEA OF 

 SOUTH AFEICA {LuCANiDiE and Scarab.eid^). 



By L. Peeinguey, F.E.S., F.Z.S., Ac, 



Assistant Director SoutSt African Museum. 



Family LUCANID^. 



Maxilla Avith two lobes, the inner one seldom distinct ; labrum 

 fused with the clypeus ; ligula not always bi-lobate, ciliate, situated 

 in the inner part of the mentum, the latter closing the greater part 

 of the buccal cavit}' ; mandibles strongly developed ; antennae inserted 

 before the eyes, ten-jointed, geniculate in the South African species,, 

 the club formed by three immovable joints strongly pectinate inwardly 

 and mostly always pubescent ; the eyes are large, partly or entirely 

 divided ; scutellum moderately small or very small ; elytra more or 

 less oblong, or sub-cylindrical, completely covering the pygidium ; 

 the abdomen has five ventral segments ; the legs are usually slender, 

 the anterior tibiae being sometimes dilated towards the apex ; the 

 intermediate and posterior tibiae have two apical, strong spurs ; the 

 tarsi are long and have very robust claws and a median onychium. 



In spite of the different facies, the insects included in this family 

 are very closely connected with the Scarabceidce. The three apical 

 joints of their antennae forming the club are, however, pectinate 

 inwardly, and not mobile, whereas in the Scarahceidce they can 

 always be folded, and are not pectinate inwardly. 

 ^' 1 



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