Solifugae. 
103 
large pair of stigmata. In nearly all Solifugae the first appen- Table-case 
dage is furnished with stridulatory ridges on its inner surface, ■ No ' 24, 
and in the adult male its dorsal surface is almost always 
provided with a curious chitinous. structure, the “flagellum,” 
which differs much in shape in the various genera. The palp, 
which is of large 
size, has a suctorial 
organ on its terminal 
segment. A number 
of peculiar chitinous 
racket-shaped struc- 
tures, the “ malleoli,” 
are present on the 
lower surface of the 
basal segments of the 
fourth leg. The 
“ abdomen ” (opistho- 
soma) is composed 
of ten distinct somites 
and the ventral sur- 
face of the second 
and third of these is 
furnished with paired 
tracheal stigmata, 
while an additional 
unpaired stigma is 
often present on the 
fourth. 
The Solifugae are 
typically desert 
forms, but a few 
species are believed 
to occur in forests. 
After nightfall in the 
tropics the nocturnal 
species are often found in houses or tents to which they 
have been attracted by the artificial light. Many species are 
diurnal, and may be seen darting about with amazing speed in 
search of prey during the hottest part of the day. They re not 
venomous, the mandibles being devoid of poison glands. They 
are oviparous. 
Solifugae occur in most of the tropical and warmer regions of 
Fig. 67. 
Galeodes arabs (three-fourths natural size). 
