DIAPERINI NORTH OF MEXICO — TRIPLEHORN 371 



eus large, well defined and swollen, simple in both sexes; genae 

 feebly reflected above antennal insertions; antennae reddish brown; 

 surface very coarsely and irregularly punctured, uniformly reddish 

 in color. Pronotum dark reddish brown, shining, apical margin sim- 

 ply bisinuate in both sexes, otherwise as in D. maculata. Scutel- 

 lum reddish orange, minutely punctulate. Elytra with lateral margins 

 subparallel; striae rather coarsely punctured, not impressed; inter- 

 vals flat, moderately, coarsely, and densely punctured; ground color 

 reddish orange with black marldngs almost identical to and subject 

 to the same variations as those of D. maculata. Entire ventral sur- 

 face reddish brown except for lateral portions of abdominal sternites 

 which may be darker; legs dark reddish brown; otherwise as in D. 

 maculata. Male aedeagus indistinguishable from that of D. maculata. 

 Measurements: length 5.0-5.8 mm.; -svidth 2.9-3.3 mm. 



Remarks. — If only the color pattern and male genitalia were con- 

 sidered, this species probably would be considered a slightly aber- 

 rant form of the rather variable D. maculata, to which it obviously 

 is closely related. Its surprising occurrence far beyond the western- 

 most limits of the latter species' range invited the close scrutiny to 

 which Blaisdell subjected it. 



It may be distinguished from its eastern relative by a number of 

 quite constant and diagnostic morphological characters. The more 

 parallel form of the body, the unicolorous head, the reddish-brown 

 ventral surface, legs, and pronotum, and the lack of sexual dimorphism 

 (i.e., absence of tubercles on the clypeus and anterior pronotal mar- 

 gin in the male), should readily separate D. calif ornica from D. mac- 

 ulata. The elongate, posthumeral black spot is always absent or 

 obsolescent, but the size of the apical blotches is variable. In one 

 specimen they fuse with the sutural black stripe; in another they 

 are almost fused with it; in all others they are separated. Thus the 

 species' color pattern falls well within the range of variation exhibited 

 by D. maculata. 



Types.— Holotype, male, CAS 2617, allotype, female, CAS 2618, 

 and 6 paratypes all from Davis Meadow, near Railroad Flat, Cala- 

 veras Co., Calif., July 8, 1907, at 2800 feet, aU taken from a large 

 fungus on a dead white oak by Frank E. Blaisdell. 



Specimens examined. — 13 from the following localities: 



United States: California (Stevenson Creek, Fresno Co., at 5000 feet, June 9, 

 1920, Henry Dietrich (CU, CAT); Placer Co., E. C. Van Dyke (CAS); Chiquito 

 Creek, Madera Co., at 4100 feet, June 22, 1920, Henry Dietrich (CAS). 



