LEPTINOTAESA. 233 



16. Leptinotarsa decemHneata. (Tab. xiii. fig. 24.) 



Chrysomela decemHneata, Say, Journ. Ac. Phil. iii. p. 453 1 ; Suffr. Stett. ent. Zeit. 1858, 



p. 245 ! . 

 Doryphora 10-lineata, Rogers, Proc. Ac. Phil. viii. 1856, p. 30 3 ; Suffr. Stett. ent. Zeit. 1858, p. 244 4 ; 



Harold, Berl. ent. Zeit. 1874, p. 444. 

 Myocoryna multilineata, Stal, Diagn. 1859, p. 316; Monogr. Chrys. Amer. p. 164 s . 



Hab. Noeth America 1 2 3 4 . — Mexico 5 , La Parada, Toluca (Salle), Cerro de Plumas, 

 Misantla (Hoge) ; Costa Eica (coll. Salle). 



There is not much doubt that this insect represents the ill-famed Colorado potato- 

 beetle, although v. Harold thinks that several closely allied species may share this 

 odium. Figures of the potato-beetle, published in America, which have come under 

 my observation, at all events prove that it is Say's species which is meant for this 

 destructive insect, which is distinguished from others, very closely allied, by the 

 fulvous legs and underside, the abdomen being spotted with black at each side as 

 well as the base of each segment, while the elytral epipleurse are entirely fulvous. 

 L. juncta, a very closely allied species, which differs in the larger size and the position 

 of the elytral stripes, seems to be rarer, and confined entirely to North America, 

 where it may possibly attack the potato-plant in company with the present species. 

 The latter does not seem to extend further south than Mexico and Costa Eica, where 

 its place is taken by another closely allied insect. From the former localities I have 

 seen but very few specimens, and from Costa Eica but a single one. 



17. Leptinotarsa multitseniata. 



Myocoryna multitaniata, Stal, Diagn. 1859, p. 317; Monogr. Chrys. Amer. p. 164 \ 

 Hab. Mexico \ Toluca, La Parada (SalU), Cerro de Plumas (Hoge). 



The differences between this species and the preceding one, as pointed out by Stal, 

 seem to me to be hardly sufficient for its validity; but without having the type 

 to compare, it is not possible to come to a definite conclusion. I have, however, 

 before me several specimens which agree very nearly or entirely with the author's 

 description, and are intermediate between L. decemHneata and L. 11-lineata, and 

 which I should have preferred to consider varieties of the first-named species on 

 account of the spotted abdomen and the fulvous elytral epipleurse. The specimens 

 show, moreover, a good many differences amongst themselves in the shape as well as 

 in the markings of the thorax, and incline to either of the species under consideration. 

 In some of them the legs are half black and half red ; and the elytral stripes resemble 

 also either the preceding or the present species in the distance they are placed from 

 each other. 



biol. cente.-amee., Coleopt., Vol. VI. Pt. 1, January 1883. 2 h 



