347 



Genus PANISCUS, ScJtr. 



Paniscm, Schrank, Faun. Boica, ii, 1802, p. 311, note. 

 Paropkeltes, Cameron, Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 1907, 

 p. 111. (Type P. Jiavolineatus, Cam.)" 



GENOTYPE, P. testaceus, Grav. 



A genus of somewhat large, testaceous-red species, with a 

 distinct areolet. Head transverse, short and sometimes subbuccate 

 behind the internally distinctly emarginate eyes ; ciypeus dis- 

 crete, subelevated, with its apex obtusely rounded and ciliate; 

 mandibles narrow, with the teeth strongly unequal, the lower 

 being much the shorter ; palpi quadriarticulate, with the apical 

 joint filiform ; ocelli large and sometimes remote from the eyes ; 

 occipital carina distinct and continuous with the gerial. Antennae 

 filiform and slender, with the scape subovate and deeply incised 

 apically. Metathorax with oblong spiracles. Abdomen com- 

 pressed or subcompressed and distinctly petiolate ; basal segment 

 straight, with the spiracles before its centre ; terebra very dis- 

 tinctly exserted. Legs slender, with the tarsal claws strongly 

 and elongately pectinate. "Wings ample, with the areolet always 

 entire ; basal nervure by no means continuous through the median, 

 but the lower basal very distinctly further from the base than the 

 upper basal. 



Raiuje. Cosmopolitan. 



This genus is very liable to be confused with Ophion or Heni- 

 (iospttus, since the coloration of all its species, and the large size o 

 several, produces a superficially close resemblance to the OPHIO- 

 NIDES. The distinct alar areolet and the position of the petiolar 

 spiracles will instantly separate them, however ; and, in spite of 

 this resemblance, there appears to be little affinity in nature 

 between the two groups. Paniscus has been somewhat recently 

 divided by Thomson into several genera, of which only his 

 Parabatus also occurs in the Indian fauna. 



Table of Species* 



1 (18) Labrum not spinously produced 



centrally. 



2 (3) Subglabrous ; metanotum not 



striate ; length 8 inillim lavis, Cam., p. 348. 



3 (2) Punctate ; metanotum distinctly 



striate; length at least 10 

 millim. 



4 (15) Xotauli distinct, at least to centre 



of mesonotum. 



5 (6) Scuteliar carime apically acumi- 



nate and coalesced intennedius, Cam., p. 349. 



6 (5) Scutellar carinse neither acumi- 



nate nor coalesced. 



7 (12) Paler ; metanotum very finely 



trans-aciculate. 



* Paniscus renovntus is omitted from this table as insufficiently described. 



