398 Descriptive Catalogue [1898 



gratitudinis (pi. xviii., fig. 9) by the fourth and fifth joints of the 

 antennae being considerably larger. 



According to Dr. Brauns's observations one male has been found 

 with Fustig erodes auriculatus , Wasm., in the galleries of Rhoplao- 

 myrmex transversinodis, Mayr., and all the other specimens, both 

 male and female, under stones where no ants were met with. 



This is a new and clear proof that it may often happen that an 

 insect is found accidentally in ants' nest without being really 

 myrmecophilous. The same case has been often proved for other 

 insects. 



Laphidioderus capensis, a Pselaphid, was originally discovered by 

 my friend Mr. Peringuey, near Cape Town, inside the deep galleries 

 of an ant, Bothroponeza pumicata. I have taken myself a con- 

 siderable number of the same insect under stones during the winter 

 season, but I never found it in company of ants. 



Another small beetle, Microxenus laticollis, WolL, is abundant in 

 winter under stones, near Cape Town. I found it several times 

 amongst ants, which did not seem to disturb it in the least, but 

 generally this insect is found under stones where ants are not found. 

 My opinion is that Microxenus is not interfered with in the least 

 by the ants, which may come and run their galleries under the stone 

 where it has set. Not only it is not driven away, but it seems quite 

 unconcerned at their presence ; it cannot, however, be considered 

 a myrmecophilous insect. 



Some heteromerous beetles of the genus Tentyria, Stenosis, and 

 here, Psaryphis, Aspila, &c. and others, are often met with ants ; their 

 case does not seem to be quite similar to that of Microxenus. Those 

 heteromera are very likely fond of the dejections, or vegetable or 

 animal matter accumulated by the ants, and they are attracted to it 

 for feeding purposes ; it is more especially amongst the debris 

 which surround the ants' nest that they are to be found. 



Monoplius inflatus and M. pinguis are another case in point. 

 These histeridous beetles feed and breed on and amongst the 

 dejections of ground Termitince (Hodoternies liavilandi), but those 

 histeridous insects are not met with in the galleries of the Termite, 

 and they cannot be, therefore, termed scnsu stricto, termitophilous 

 insects ; they must be considered as living in the proximity of 

 Termes and feeding exclusively on stercorarious matter produced by 

 the Termes. 



Quite different is the case of the ClavujcridcE and Paussidc?, which 

 must be considered as really myrmecophilous, or at any rate 

 myrmecobious. Both live in the very galleries of the ants, and are 



