DIABKOTICA. 543 



All the known localities for B. lepida are upon the Atlantic slope; it is apparently 

 quite a common insect in Mexico and Guatemala. 



93. Diabrotica variabilis. 



Ovate, convex, dilated posteriorly, black ; antennae (the apical joints excepted) and legs flavous ; head and. 

 thorax rufous, the latter bifoveolate ; elytra greenish- or bluish-black, a deeply dentate spot at the base, a 

 narrow transverse band at the middle, and an oblique band near the apex, fulvous or reddish-fulvous. 



Var. a. The fulvous portion of the elytra predominating, the darker colour reduced to spots. 



Var. b. Elytra black, the extreme lateral margins fulvous. 



Var. c. Elytra testaceous, with a small scutellar dark spot, 

 c? . The space between the eyes deeply excavate. 



Length 2^-3 lines. 



Head rufous, shining, deeply excavated in the male ; antennae flavous, the apical four joints more or less stained 

 with fuscous, the first joint (in the male) very long, the second one extremely short, the third and fourth 

 joints nearly equal, the following joints gradually diminishing in length ; thorax twice as broad as long, 

 shining, impunctate, with a more or less deep transverse depression on each side ; scutellum black ; elytra 

 widened posteriorly, rather strongly punctured, the punctuation arranged in closely approached lines, of a 

 greenish-black colour, the extreme lateral margins, the epipleurse, a deeply dentate triangular spot at the 

 base extending to the shoulders and there joining the lateral margin, a narrow band extending completely 

 across the middle, and an oblique shorter band near the apex of each, fulvous ; legs flavous. 



Hob. Mexico, Cordova, Tapachula {Edge), Juquila (Salle) ; Guatemala, El Reposo, 

 San Isidro, Volcan de Atitlan, Pantaleon, Zapote, San Geronimo, La Tinta, Chacoj, 

 Teleman, Cahabon, San Juan in Vera Paz [Champion); Nicaeagua, Granada, San 

 Juan (Salle), Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica (Van Patten); Panama, BugabaT Volcan 

 d e Chiriqui , David, Tole (Champion). 



B. variabilis is closely allied in general shape and colour to B. Iceta, Fabr., B. stevensi, 

 Baly, B. beata, Baly, and several other species ; but may be known by the posterior 

 fulvous oblique band of the elytra, this band being absent in the allied forms. The 

 Mexican specimens nearly all differ from the numerous examples obtained in the 

 State of Panama in having the elytra fulvous, with a deeply dentate basal band (some- 

 times divided into two spots), and a large transverse spot below the middle, as well as 

 the apex, greenish-black ; if the dark portion or bands predominate, the coloration is 

 that of the type in which the fulvous colour assumes the shape of bands ; between this 

 form and the varieties several intermediate degrees are before me. The open coxal 

 cavities prove this species to belong to Biabrotica. B. clypeata, Baly, is another allied 

 insect, in which the male has the head excavated. 



94. Diabrotica ventricosa. (Tab. xxxil. fig. 25.) 



Diabrotica ventricosa, Jac. P. Z. S. 1878, p. 148 \ 



Ovate, dilated, black ; antennas and legs flavous ; head and thorax rufous, the latter obsoletely bifoveolate ; 



elytra obsoletely costate, black, two spots at the base, a transverse band at the middle, and the apical 



margin, flavous. 

 $ . Head deeply excavate in the middle. 

 Length 2| lines. 



Eab. Panama \ Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 



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