46 



Descriptive Catalogue 



[1897. 



last joint of the maxillary palpi is always provided with an apical 

 appendage. 



So far as is now known few species are recorded from South 

 Africa. This scarcity is caused by the dryness of the climate. In 

 tropical climes, where damp heat and moisture prevail, the Psela- 

 'pliidoi are very numerous. But although not numerous, they are 

 peculiar to that part of the world, and the South African fauna is a 

 very isolated one, except for the eastern part, where an affinity with 

 the Zanzibar fauna does undoubtedly exist. 



PselaphidcB are found under stones, more especially where the 

 ground is clayey and schistaceous, under the bark of trees, dead 

 leaves, those of oaks especially, in moss, flying at sunset in marshy 

 places, and in ants' nests. 



The family is divided into two sub - families, PsELAPHiD.aE 

 Genuine and Clavigekid^, divided by the following distinctive 

 characters : — 



Maxillee and paraglossse spiculose; elytra simple at apex Pselaphid^. 

 Maxillae and paraglossse with a long ])ubescence ; elytra 

 and abdomen plicate at base and fasciculate Clavigerid^. 



PSELAPHIDiE. 



All the trochanters short, insertion of the femur on the 

 trochanter lateral, base of femur touching, or nearly so, the 

 coxae 



Median trochanters (sometimes the anterior and pos- 

 terior ones also) long, insertion of the femur on the 

 trochanter apical, and consequently always at a great 

 distance from the coxae 



PSELAPHID.E 



BRACHYSCELID^. 



PSELAPHID.E 



MACEOSCELID^. 



Synopsis of Tribes. 



PSELAPHID^ BBACHYSCELID^. 



A 2. Hind coxae prominent and conical ; body more or less elon- 

 gate and depressed. 



B 2. Middle coxae prominent and conical ; tarsi with two claws 



of generally the same size Faronini. 



B 1. Middle coxae globular, not prominent. 



C 2. Tarsi with a single claw Euplectini. 



C 1. Tarsi with two claws of very unequal size, the internal one 



very small, and sometimes hardly apparent Trichonyni. 



A 1. Hind and middle coxae globular, not prominent, the hind 

 coxae sometimes a little triangular and depressed. 



B 2. First ventral segment very short, always more or less 

 hidden under the hind coxae or the metasternum. 



C 2. Tarsi with two very unequal claws ; hind coxae somewhat 

 triangular and depressed (but neither prominent nor 

 conical) Batrisini. 



