CRYPTOCEPHALUS IN AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO 51 



Cryptoceplvalus defectus Lecontc 



Figure 65 



Cryptocephalus defectus Leconte, 1880, p. 201, 



Cryptocephalus nigrovittatus Jacoby, 1880, p. 44. [New synonymy.] 



Pronotum: Light orange throughout, vaguely darker near apex and 

 laterally on each side; punctation extremely sparse and minute, not 

 distinctly dual. 



Elytra: Light orange with brown markings. Each elytron with dark 

 markings as follows: on second stria at base, at basal half of fourtli 

 interval, on humerus, at apical third of sixth interval, at apex of sixth 

 interval, and at middle of eighth stria. With seven rows of punctures 

 and a short series behind humerus, no striae confused; fourth interval 

 distinctly narrowed at nearly basal half, all intervals distinctly convex; 

 punctures finer, as dense as usual, striae finer to apex; inner and outer 

 rows distinct at apex and usually clearly meeting. 



Prosternum: Anterior margin in female broadly ,[feebly lobed; male 

 not seen. 



Length: 3.2 to 3.3 mm. 



Discussion.— Schaeffer (1934, p. 457) listed as synonyms of luteolus 

 Newman both dejectus and sanfordi Blatchley {=sanJordensis Blatch- 

 ley, see Clavareau, 1913, p. 182). He stated that he had seen the type 

 of dejectus and had received notes on the type of luteolus; however, the 

 species I interpret as luteolus {= sanfordi) has a reddish thorax; that of 

 dejectus is described as yellow and not varied. In the USNM coUection 

 there is a single individual from Florida that agrees with the descrip- 

 tions of sanfordi and luteolus and that is clearly distinct from two 

 individuals from Texas which agree with the description of defedm. 

 When a color sketch of one of the latter individuals was sent to the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Dr. Evans informed me that the 

 type of defectv^ agreed with it. On this basis, I remove defectus from 

 synonymy with luteolus. 



By its description and illustration, nigrovittatus Jacoby (October 

 1880 p 44) is nearly identical with defectus Leconte (July 1880, p. 

 201) ' The only difference is the extent of the black stripe on the second 

 interval of the elytra of nigrovittatus; it is described and illustrated as 

 extending past the middle of the interval. In a series of individuals 

 from Central America (Finca, Panama; Yepocapa, Guatemala; and 

 Almolonga, Mexico) that agree with the description of mgroMiatus, 

 however, this vitta is variable in its development. In mne it is as 

 described in the original description, in one it is nearly absen , and m 

 another it is interrupted in the middle. I find no other character, that 



