H. C. FALL 305 



elongate frontal spot, often connected with the one on the vertex 

 and usually forked inferiorly, a branch extending on either side 

 to the antennal fovea, the branches not infrequently interrupted, 

 leaving an isolated antennal spot. In a reduction of the markings 

 the antennal spots first disappear, then the frontal one, and finally 

 the vertex spot, which is rarely entirely lacking. On the other 

 hand all spots may become larger and by suffusion the entire 

 surface becomes dark, the entire obliteration of the pale color 

 from the head being, however, of rare occurrence. On the pro- 

 thorax there are three standard spots extending forward from 

 the base a variable distance, the middle one divided anteriorly and 

 joining the lateral ones, forming an M-shaped mark, which in 

 descriptions is briefly called the M. Here bj' reduction the spots 

 become smaller and disconnected, finally disappearing at the 

 base; or on the other hand they may become nuicli heavier, 

 leaving only two basal spots, a narrow median anterior line, the 

 outer margin — wider at the front angles — and the anterior mar- 

 gin, pale; or they may be irregularly developed and suffused, and 

 finally the whole surface becomes black. On the elytra the stand- 

 ard spots are six in number; an outer marginal or submarginal 

 series of three, and a corresponding discal series of like number. 

 Not rarely the spots are all more or less completely isolated or 

 individually distinct; in a few species the spots of each series are 

 longitudinally confluent into more or less regular vittae, but in a 

 far greater number they are more or less unequally developed 

 and irregularly confluent both longitudinally and transversely, 

 giving rise to a mottled appearance difficult to describe, and often 

 so variable within specific limits that it can only be characterized 

 as one of the broadly typical varieties of the standard markings. 



Pygidium. — Blackish with a small marginal pale spot each 

 side and two obliquely oval apical spots of variable size, often 

 confluent with each other and with the small lateral spots. By 

 a reduction of the pale spots the surface may become entirely 

 black, or by their extension the black area is reduced to a basal 

 band produced backward a little at its extremities and having 

 a median cusp-like prominence, and in a few species the surface 

 becomes entirely pale. 



Body heloiv. — Blackish or brownish, usually with the epimera, 

 sides of the abdomen and last ventral segment paler. 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC, XLI. 



