

; s 1 / I 



V 



EPILACHNA. 243 



suture, three nearly in a straight fasciate line near the middle, and two subapical, 

 these latter sometimes united and forming an arcuate spot, this constituting the var. 

 varices, Muls. This variety is not uncommon ; I have seen it from Cordova, Oaxaca, 

 Capulalpam, the city of Mexico, Chilpancingo, and the Hacienda de Bleados. The 

 variety named E. corrupta by Mulsant, and of which the type from Chevrolat's 

 collection is before me, is simply a very dark form of this insect with the black spots 

 represented by denuded spaces, rendering them more distinct than they would other- -v^ Uu.^, q w D 

 wise be; it is scarcely different from the var. murina, in which the spot nearest the 

 suture of the apical pair is not apparent in the type. An example from Parada in 

 Salle's collection wholly agrees with the form murina, and is labelled " plumbea, Deyr. " 

 The soft pubescence in examples of this type is just like that of E. olivacea and of 

 E. obscurella, Muls., and it appears probable to me that the latter is only the extreme 

 form, in which the denuded spots have quite disappeared. We have received a small 

 series from Oaxaca (Edge) which appear to be referable to E. murina or E. corrupta ; 

 but they are decidedly shorter, and have, consequently, the two subapical spots in a 

 straight fascia, instead of being obliquely placed. The species disappears towards the 

 Isthmus of Panama ; the only two specimens obtained there by Mr. Champion are of 

 the yellow form, in one of which the basal row of spots is gone, in the other they 

 re almost obsolete. E. simillima, Crotch, from Bogota, is, I think, rather a form of 

 E. borealis than, as he thought, of this insect. 



Dr. Palmer has sent the larva (fig. 20) and pupa of a pallid variety of E. varivestis 

 from Mexico city. The larva is clothed with branched and variegated black-and-white 

 spines. The pupa retains the larval skin, only partially cast, on its hind body. There 

 is a record of E. corrupta from New Mexico [cf. ' Insect Life,' ii. pp. 113, 114 (1889)]. 

 We figure a typical example from Oaxaca (fig. 17) ; the var. varipes, Muls., from 

 Cordova (fig. 18); and a pale variety (fig. 19) and its larva (fig. 20) from Mexico city. 



15. Epilachna obscurella. 



Epilachna obscurella, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim, secur. p. 809 \ 

 Hab. Mexico 1 (Salle), near the city (Edge). 



The smaller size, more oblong shape, and black legs and trophi seem to be sufficient 

 to give this form specific rank. The elytral margins, moreover, are hardly expanded. 

 It is however, very difficult to distinguish this from nearly black forms of E. varivestis. 

 Crotch (Rev. Coccin. p. 62) treats E. obscurella as a variety of E. olivacea. 



16. Epilachna vulnerata. (Tab. XIII. fig. 21.) 



Late ovata, suborbicularis, nigra, nitida, brevissime pubescens; elytris fasciis duabus nee marginem nee 

 suturam attingentibus, maculaque magna subrotundata subapicali sanguineis haud bene diseretis, ore, 

 antennis, palpis, geniculis, tibiis tarsisque rufis. Long. 8 millim. 



Eab. Mexico (Salle ; mas. Crotch). 



21* 2 



