ZONAEIUS. 109 



ZONARIUS. 



Zonarius, Hope, Rev. Zool. 1841, p. Ill ; Lacordaire, Monogr. Erotyl. p. 468. 



Zonarius is separated from Erotylus by very trifling differences of structure, and it is 

 impossible to give any definite reason for its distinction from Micrerotylus. Yet there 

 is a peculiarity of pattern and a similarity of form among the species which render 

 its members easy of recognition as pertaining to a distinct natural group. About 

 twenty species are known, all from Tropical South America and Central America, but 

 not passing further north than Mexico. 



1. Zonarius cacicus. (Tab. VI. fig. 14.) 



Zonarius cacicus, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 474 * ; Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 542. 



Hob. Mexico, Jalapa, Misantla (Edge), San Andres Tuxtla, Toxpam (Salle), Orizaba \ 

 Yucatan 2 ; Guatemala, Purula and Senahu in Vera Paz (Champion). 



An example from Toxpam is figured. 



2. Zonarius zebra. 



Erotylus zebra, Eabr. Mant. Ins. i. p. 92 1 ; Duponch. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 16, t. 1. f. 21. 

 Zonarius zebra, Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 478 2 . 

 Zonarius quadrifasciatus, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. p. 543 3 . 

 Zonarius guatemala, Crotch, loc. cit. 4 



Bob. Mexico 3 , Toxpam (Salle), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith) ; British Honduras, 

 Belize (Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala 4 , Zapote (Champion). — Colombia 2 ; Guiana 2 , 

 Cayenne 1 2 ; Ecuador, Quito 2 ; Trinidad (coll. Gorham). 



A well-known and widely distributed species. 



Z. quadrifasciatus is only a variety with the bands on the elytra rather narrow. 



The specimens we have received from Zapote agree perhaps more nearly with 

 Z. jansoni than with Crotch's type of Z. guatemalce ; but serve to show that the forma- 

 tion of species on mere colour-varieties, especially when few specimens are available, 

 leads to no settled result. 



3. Zonarius jansoni. (Tab. VI. figg. 15, 16.) 



Zonarius jansoni, Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 149 1 i 543. 



Hab. Nicaragua, Santo Domingo in Chontales (Janson l , Belt) ; Costa Rica, Cache 

 (Rogers) ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, David (Champion). 



This insect is probably a local variety of Z. zebra. We have received an extensive 

 series of specimens of Z. jansoni; Mr. Champion met with it frequently on the 

 Volcan de Chiriqui, up to an elevation of 4000 feet. These Chiriqui examples agree 

 in having the anterior band interrupted so as to form an oblique oval spot on each 



