Annals of the Tkansvaal Museum. 



107 



MAEGAEUPITS ANNULATUS, vai. DECULUEATUS, 



{KOCH). 



The Blue Tk k. 



IiJii picepJialu.s decoJorat us , Koch (1844, 1847). 



R]ii[)icepludus decoloratus, Kocli (Neiimaiiii, 1897). 



Rlti piceplialus aiDiuhdus, (Curtice), var. decoloratus , (Kocli) 

 (Neumann 1901, 1904). 



JLu-grn'opus (oinuhifus , (Curtice), var. decolonitus, (Kocli) (Xeumann 

 1907). 



Flute \ I, figures a to o. 



Male. — Body oval, narrowed in front, presenting its greatest 

 width (1.0 to 1.5 mm.) at the level of the stigmatic plates, length 

 2.0 to 2.75 mm. ; integument very thin, often allowing the ramifica- 

 tions of the intestines to show through. Shield (VI, a) reddish brown, 

 covering all the dorsal surface, prolonged on each side of the rostrum 

 in front by two horns, the inner of which is smaller ; two cervical 

 grooves, shallow and wide, extending to the posterior margin., 

 interrupted in the middle and widened into a shallow pit at its 

 resumption; a median groove in the posterior half, posterior festoons 

 .scarcely marked, except the median ones, which are indicated by 

 scallops ; punctuations large, superficial ; numerous short hairs 

 scattered all over the shield, which is finely wrinkled; eyes pale, very 

 small, often almost invisible, at level of first inter-coxal space ; dorsal 

 porose areas at posterior third of length, very small and well separated. 

 Ventral surfaee {VI, h) same colour as dorsal, with numerous 

 long, whitish hairs on all its extent ; sexual orihce wide, situated a 

 little behind the level of the anterior margins of coxae II, a large 

 f riangular plate forms its posterior margin ; anus near posterior 

 quarter of length ; on each side of the anus an elongate plate, 

 extending forward as far as the posterior margin or middle of 

 coxae ly, anterior end pointed, inner margin longer and prolonged 

 into a conical point on posterior end; posterior margin emarginate ; 

 outside of each anal plate another much smaller and narrower, but 

 of almost same shape as first ; liotli of these pairs of plates may 

 extend beyond the posterior margin of the body ; a strong conical 

 caudal prolongation of the body on the median line ; truncate on the 

 tip and curved downw^ard ; stigmatic plates almost circular, large. 

 Rostrum (VI, c) very short, dorsal base hexagonal, wider than long; 

 lateral angles very sharp, inserted into a rather shallow emar<>;ination 

 of the shield; ventral base semi-circular; mandibles (17, /), with 

 inner apophysis of digit, bearing a transverse process with two sharp 

 teeth; outer apophysis with Uyo teeth, the lower large and strong, the 

 upper very small and sub-terminal; liypostome short and wide, 

 emarginate at tip, numerous denticles on anterior end folloAved by 

 thr'^^ rows of large teeth on each half; palpi short, sub-conical, with 

 articles as wide as long ; article I concealed in part under anterior 

 dorsal margin of base of rostrum ; article II constricted at base, 

 widened in middle into a prominent crest on both inner and outer 

 margin; numerous strong spines, especially on inner margin; article 



