102 Descrijytive Catalogue [1897. 



ceding one, ninth and tenth increasing in size, little elongate, 

 eleventh oblongo-ovate ; metasternum having on each side an ovate 

 depressed tubercle not acute at tip. Length 1'60-1'80 mm. 



Mr. P^ringuey discovered this species near Cape Town in the 

 galleries of an ant {Bothroponera piLmicata). I have found it in 

 nearly the same locality under stones, and there v^ere no ants ; it is 

 abundant in June and July on the slopes of the Lion's Rump in 

 Cape Town. 



Laphidioderus brevipennis. 



Closely allied to the preceding species, but the head is more 

 elongate ; antennae shorter, eighth to tenth joints a little longer than 

 broad, slightly transverse, eleventh oblong, acuminate at tip ; pro- 

 thorax shorter than broad, sulci shorter, not reaching the median 

 part ; elytra almost shorter than the prothorax, much transverse, 

 attenuate at base, slightly rounded laterally, dorsal stria arcuate ; 

 abdomen twice as long as the elytra ; metasternum sulcate. 



Male : Last joint of antennae hardly longer than the others, club 

 triarticulate ; metasternum having on each side an ovate tubercle 

 ending in a minute tooth. 



Female : Metasternum having on each side an ovate tubercle not 

 sharp at tip. Length 2 mm. 



Hah. Cape Colony (environs of Cape Town, Mowbray) ; two 

 examples. 



This species is so very much like the preceding one that a com- 

 parative diagnosis may prove useful. 



Capensis. Brevipennis. 



All the joints of the antennae Joints eighth, ninth, and tenth 



longer than broad, antennal club transverse ; antennal club of 



of male four-jointed. male trijointed. 



Prothorax longer than broad, Prothorax as broad as long, 



basal sulcus longer than half the basal sulcus shorter than the 



length. prothorax by half the length. 



Elytra short, transverse, longer Elytra very short, very trans- 



than the second dorsal segment verse, not longer than the second 



of the abdomen. dorsal segment of the abdomen. 



Abdomen once and a half Abdomen twice the length of 



as long as the elytra. the elytra. 



Metasternum of the male with Metasternum of male with two 



two conical and acute tubercles. fiat tubercles bearing a small 



tooth behind. 



