io8 



VARIATION IN LlCPTINOTARSA. 



Table 41. Geographical variation in the epicranium of L. multitaniata, oblongata, 

 intermedia, decemlineaia, rubicttnda, and mclanothorax. 



In the data presented in tables 39 to 41 certain features of geograph- 

 ical variation are apparent. Some species are more variable than others, and 

 of these more variable species those of wide range are generally most vari- 

 able and those of limited range least variable. This, however, is not always 

 true. Thus, undecimlineata appears in all of the tables as a wide-ranging spe- 

 cies, found from Mexico to Panama, yet it is relatively invariable ; whereas 

 dahlbomi is also a wide-ranging species found from Guatemala to Texas 

 and is highly invariable, although it lives in many different environments. 

 On the other hand, multitceniata is highly variable and decemlineata only a 

 little less so, while the species of the dilecta and haldemani groups present 

 only a moderate amount of variation. 



