ARESCUS. 31 
ARESCUS. 
Arescus, Perty, Del. Anim. Art. p. 100 (1832) ; Baly, Cat. Hispide, p. 80, t. 2. f. 2. 
Chelobasis, Gray, Griffith’s Animal Kingdom, Ins. ii. 148, t. 101. figg. 4, 4 a-g. , 
The insects belonging to the genus Arescus are above the medium size, brilliantly 
coloured, and are so variable in tint and markings that in a long series of individuals 
belonging to the same species, it is comparatively rare to find two specimens of 
precisely the same colour and pattern. From their abundance and variability it is fair 
to assume that the conditions under which these insects live are greatly in excess of the 
absolute requirements of the species, and that the additional vital energy thus produed 
expends itself in the development of innumerable variations from the original type of 
coloration. 
Of the same habits as Prosopodonta, Cheirispa, and most of the species of Cephaloleia, 
and found in the broad unopened leaves of Musaceee and Marantacez (Champion). 
1. Arescus bicolor. (Tab. IT. figg. 10, 11.) 
Chelobasis bicolor, Gray, loc. cit. p. 148, t. 67. f. 4°. 
Arescus labiatus (Perty), Baly, Cat. Hispide, p. 837. 
Oblongo-elongatus, fulvus aut flavus, nitidus; antennis [basi excepta], scutello, femoribus apice, tiblis tarsisque 
nigris ; thorace transverso; lateribus rectis, rarius ante medium ampliatis, ad apicem rotundato-angustatis, 
disco lwvi; scutello elongato-trigonato, obtuso; elytris anguste oblongis, parallelis, apice conjunctim 
rotundatis, regulariter punctato-striatis, utrisque maculis duabus infra basin, transversim dispositis, fascia 
prope medium, utrinque abbreviata, plaga magna ante apicem, lineaque marginali, postice abbreviata, in- 
terdum obsoleta, nigris. . 
Var. A. Thorace piceo aut nigro tincto, elytrorum fascia integra, plaga subapicali communi. 
Var. B. Thorace nigro, elytrorum apice toto nigro. 
Var. C. Niger, elytris rufis, fascia nigra communi extrorsum abbreviata, maculis basalibus interdum obsoletis. 
Var. D. Subtus niger, thorace rufo-fulvo, femoribus flavo-maculatis; supra rufo-fulvus; antennis (articulo 
secundo excepto), verticis macula, scutello elytrorumque punctis tribus, horum primo supra callum hume- 
rale, secundo vix ante medium, tertio inter medium et apicem positis, nigris. 
Var. E. Pallide flavus, antennis extrorsum, oculis, scutello, elytrorum puncto humerali, femorum apice, tibiis 
extus tarsisque nigris. 
Var. F. Elytris totis flavis aut fulvis. 
Var. G. Thorace flavo et fulvo, nigro variegato. 
Long. 43-5 lin. 
Hab. Guatemaua, Senahu and Sabo in Vera Paz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba 800 
to 1500 feet, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).—Sourn Amenrtca!; 
Cotompia; Guana, Cayenne 2. 
This species is abundant in the forest-region of the State of Panama. Large numbers 
of specimens, including all the varieties, are often found clustered together in the 
unopened leaves (Champion). 
Although most inconstant in pattern, many of the specimens agree with the figure 
of Chelobasis bicolor, Gray, in Griffith’s ‘Animal Kingdom.’ I have therefore restored 
Gray’s name, which I had formerly given as a synonym of A. labiatus, Perty. Specimens 
from Colombia and Cayenne placed (Cat. Hisp.) under the latter species belong here. 
