CRYPTOCEPHALUS IN AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO 39 



The species has previously been recorded from Texas, but none of 

 the specunens in the USNM collection are from this state. It is 

 possible that these records represent misidentifications of leucomelas 

 or texanus, as both are similar to hivius. 



Cryptocephalus brunneovittatus SchaelTer 



Figures 80, 118 

 Cryptocephalus brunneovittatus Schaefifer, 1904, p. 226. 



Pronotum: Dull orange to orange or reddish orange, often with 

 light basal oblique spots, lateral and apical margins vaguely lighter; 

 punctation dual, larger punctures small to minute; surface shining. 



Elytra: Dull orange to orange and with reddish striae and vittae. 

 With vague to distinct red to dark reddish vittae as follows: at basal 

 two-thirds of fourth interval, apical one-third of interval usually 

 vaguely darker; at apical half of sixth interval, vittae sharply de- 

 limited by striae. With seven rows of punctures, all even and distinct, 

 punctures sometimes larger than usual, always sharply impressed, 

 distinct to apex; inner and outer rows distinct at apex and clearly 

 meeting . 



Prosternum: Anterior margin evenly arcuate in both sexes. 



Length: 3.4 to 4.6 mm. 



Discussion. — There are three specunens (two females, one male) 

 in the U.S. National Musuem, each designated on two separate, 

 plain labels as "type," and also on a third, red, museum label as 

 CO types; they bear the number 42281. The collection data are as 

 follows: "Esprza Rch., Brownsville, Tex." One of the females was 

 taken on May 29; the others do not bear the date of collection. Two 

 additional specimens (with differing data) had been placed with the 

 CO types but bear no type designation, and I have not accepted these 

 as types. One of the females in the type series (the one bearing the 

 date of collection) has a Schaeffer determination label; I have labeled 

 it, and it is here designated as lectotype. 



All individuals in the U.S. National Museum have the elytral 

 vittae light reddish to dark reddish (never black as given in the 

 original description). Infrequently these vittae are vaguely indicated 

 or essentially absent. The first vitta occupies the fourth interspace 

 and is vague or absent at the apical third. The second vitta occupies 

 the sixth interspace and is usually indistinct to absent at the basal 

 half. The humerus is always more or less reddish. 



Schaeffer (1904, p. 227) was in error in stating that the males bear 

 a large round impression on the last abdommal segment. This is 

 always a female character in Cryptocephalus. 



Label data record specimens as taken on cowpea leaf, on Dohchvs 

 minimus L. ("Dolicholus minima") leaf, and in cotton fields. 



