206 COCCINELLIM. 



Hab. Guatemala, Capetillo {Champion). 



Rather smaller on the average than any of the preceding species ; the head and 

 thorax of a beautiful blood-red colour, the latter with a black central marking, which 

 is very variable, consisting of either two spots on the front margin, and two large ones 

 usually united on the base, or these may all be united forming a broad central vitta 

 with a central linear red spot, and even with the hind angles black. The elytra are 

 black and shining, with two white spots on the base, but not quite touching it nor the 

 suture (the external limb of the elytra being always black), one subscutellar and the 

 other subhumeral ; three spots form a slightly arcuate fascia about the middle, and 

 there is an oblique spot (formed of two united, occasionally divided) near the apex. 

 The whole body beneath, with the legs up to the knees, is of a clear blood-red colour. 

 The antennae are black, with the first three or four joints reddish beneath ; the palpi 

 are pitchy, paler at their bases ; the tibiae and tarsi are black. 



The variety a is similarly coloured, but the spots on the elytra have become 

 brownish-red, but 1 think only from discoloration since death. 



The variety /3 results from the more or less complete fusion of the white spots on 

 the elytra. Only two specimens of this variety were obtained, and they differ slightly 

 in the degree to which the white colour has extended : in one of them the anterior 

 large black spots unite at the suture, but are separated from the margin ; while in the 

 other they are just interrupted at the suture, but are united with the posterior black 

 spots by two narrow lines, indicating the position of the middle white spot of the fascia 

 in the type. 



Numerous specimens of this beautiful species were taken at Capetillo by Mr. Cham- 

 pion, including the two of the variety (5 above described ; they were all found aestivating 

 under bark, on the slope of the Volcan de Fuego. 



We figure a specimen of the type, fig. 15, and one of the variety 0, fig. 16. 



Subfam. POBIIDES. 



With the Poriides we commence the section of the Coccinellidee which have the 

 entire surface more or less pubescent. While the classification of the family by this 

 character presents considerable difficulty, there is nevertheless a true affinity between 

 many of the hairy genera and their subdivision into subfamilies, and their relative 

 position both with regard to each other and to the foregoing divisions is to be regarded 

 as, at present, an unresolved problem. Crotch placed Porta at the head of his Rhizo- 

 biides, but the genus diverges in its eyes not being coarsely facetted, and I prefer to 

 regard them, with Mulsant and Chapuis, as forming a separate group peculiar to 

 America. 



