1892.] of the CoUoptera of South Africa, ~ S 



the other ; prothorax short, narrowed in the anterior part, the posterior 

 developed behind in two lobes, broadly notched in the centre ; elytra 

 soldered together, plane or slightly convex, deeply depressed at the base 

 for the reception of the prothoraqic lobes, declivous behind, more or, 

 less densely set with short, setigerous granules, which are more closely 

 set, larger and have longer hairs at the declivity ; legs long, with 

 strong bristles, tarsi not grooved, the anterior ones not dilated in the 

 male ; six abdominal segments in both sexes, the penultimate one not 

 incised in the male. 



The male has long, falciform mandibles, the left one overlapping the 

 right, which is longer in the curve, furnished with two large, triangular, 

 flat inner teeth, with one or more minor teeth between, and a bi or 

 trifid one at the very base ; the elytra are always more or less ampliated 

 in the middle, almost parallel, (tuderculata) cordiform, (mygaloides, 

 scalra) or even nearly orbicular, {ferox) with the disk plane or a little 

 convex, and gradually or abruptly declivous behind. 



The female has shorter mandibles, each one with two inner flat 

 teeth, one near the base, the other in the centre, besides the bifid one 

 at the very base ; the elyira not being narrowed at the base look more 

 nearly parallel, they are more convex at a short distance from the base, 

 more abruptly declivous behind, and are more closely granulated, and 

 the granules more pronounced. 



Mantichora are black insects, that perched high on their legs move 

 about in the dry barren plains of the Karoo, in a jerky impetuous 

 manner, which implies a bold, fearless temper, evidently aware 

 of its physical power. They do not emit, like the Anthiay a volatile 

 fluid, in spite of the assertion to that effect, but they inflict a somewhat 

 painful bite on the would-be captor if they are allowed an opportilnity 

 of doing so. The greater development of the mandibles of the male 

 has probably been acquired for the purpose of seizing hold, as they do, 

 of the broad neck of the female for mating. The males are very 

 pugnacious among themselves. 



I am still wondering what the Mantichora prey upon, and I am not 

 at ail satisfiefl that ants are their staple food, although I have several 

 times seen examples wiih heads of soldiers of Formica rufopilosa 

 fixed by their jaws on antennae or legs. 



