546 Transactions South African Philosophical Society, [vol. xiii. 



small one at about the median part of the margin, and having a few, 

 short setae between the two ; ultimate joint of maxillary palps 

 moderately long, sub-cylindrical, acuminate rounded at tip; clypeus 

 convex in the centre, marginate laterally and in front, parallel and 

 truncal c : head simple depressed, basal joint of antennas very large, 

 strongly auriculate ; eyes narrow at the top, very large underneath ; 

 prothorax ampliate rounded laterally from the anterior to near the 

 median part, narrowed and straight thence to a short distance from 

 the base where it is narrowed again, the base itself being straight 

 with the angles moderately sharp ; scutellum very long and sharp; 

 elytra parallel, very little sinuate laterally, and covering the pro- 

 pygidium ; last spiracle sharp ; pygidium vertical, horizontal under- 

 neath; meta- and mesosternum fused, the former very large, the 

 prosternum has an horizontal ante-coxal process which is, however, 

 covered by the triangular point of the mentum ; legs massive, com- 

 pressed, tarsal joints thick, connate, claws small, weak, anterior 

 tarsi four-, intermediate and posterior five-jointed. 



The species for the reception of which this genus is founded was 

 found in the formicarium of a species which, from the description 

 given me, I take to be Plagiolepis custodiens, Sm. 



Placodidus compkansoh, Pering., 

 Plate XLV ; fig. 9. 

 Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1900, p. 69. 

 Black, opaque ; head and clypeus very finely plicate longitudinally, 

 and with minute lutescent hairs in the interstices ; prothorax 

 striolate longitudinally and with an impression on each side as well 

 as in the median part, all these impressions are very superficial, the 

 minute, scattered hairs are more visible than on the head ; scutellum 

 also longitudinally striate, broader than the prothorax, nearly 

 parallel, the suture is raised and there are on each side two sharply 

 tectiform dorsal costas and a carinate one above the defiexed part 

 which is vertical, the intervals are filled with numerous fine, slightly 

 wavy strides, but the sides arc irregularly punctulate, and here and 

 there are minute hairs; pygidium transverse, very broadly and 

 deeply impressed across in the centre, the upper part slants con- 

 siderably above the hollowed portion and is incised in the middle, the 

 hollowed, bud- horizontal part is more broadly foveate than the 

 upper, and the whole under side and legs are finely strigillate and 

 glabrous. 



Length 9-11 mm. ; width 3^—1 mm. 



//<(/.. Cape Colony (Malmesbury, Ceres). 



