56 



EVOLUTION IN COLOR-PATTERN OF THE LADY-BEETLES. 



TRIBE COCCINELLINI. 



Genus NEOHARMONIA Casey. 

 3055 a. Neoharmonia venusta Mulsant (fig. 44). 

 Distribution : Indiana to Kansas, Michigan to Texas. 



Var. A Mulsant. The humeral spot united to the lateral spot of the intermediate row. 



Var. B. As in fig. 44, b. 



Var. C. As in fig. 44, c. The pronotal spots confluent. 



FIG. 44. a to c, variation of color-pattorn of N. venusta. 

 c, from Louisiana; d, e, N. notulatn. 



3055 b. Neoharmonia notulata Mulsant (fig. 44). 



Distribution: Louisiana. 



Unfortunately I am unable to throw light on the interesting question 

 of the nature of this melanic derivative of the previous species. It is here 

 given specific rank with the greatest hesitancy. 



Typical pattern as in fig. 44, d. 

 Var. C Mulsant. With the light mark reduced and divided into two smaller ones. The 



lateral one may not reach the margin. 

 Var. D. As in fig. 44, e. 



3055 c. Neoharmonia ampla Mulsant. 



Distribution: Texas and Mexico. 



The pronotal marks fused to make 2 longitudinal vittse (fig. 45). 

 The elytral pattern (fig. 46) is much reduced, revealing in some speci- 

 mens 4 separate spots instead of 2 in the intermediate row and 4 separate 



PIG. 45. Variation in pronotal pattern of N. ampla. All from Brownsville, Texas. 

 FIG. 46 Variation in elytral pattern in N. ampla. All from Brownsville, Texas. 



spots instead of 2 in the apical row. This species stands intermediate in 

 elytral pattern between Neoharmonia venusta and Olla abdominalis and its 

 variation is parallel in general with the latter. 



