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 Studying series of specimens from a large geographic 



range has allowed me to observe geographic variations in 



color patterns that were once considered specific. One 



such character is the color of the head, which can be red, 



black, or with some variation of both. In only a few 



cases has this variation been more than a clinal or 



subspecific difference. 



The term "pattern" was used for variations of a color 

 pattern in situations where previously described species 

 were found to be part of a cline. These "patterns" were 

 maintained because they still had some relation to a 

 geographic range. The "pattern" name is the specific name 

 that once applied to that pattern, or a name was applied 

 if that "pattern" was not previously described. New 

 "pattern" names were applied only if specific names already 

 existed for other patterns (see I. quadripunctatus and I. 

 scriptus) . These named "patterns" have no nomenclatural 

 status . 



Another general trend is the change of elytral 

 patterns from north to south. Many species have solid 

 bands with smooth edges in the north; moving south, these 

 edges become more and more sinuate. Some even develop into 

 stripes as the sinuate edges on both sides of the band 

 meet. Many species from mid-South America have striped 

 patterns. In contrast, the majority of northern species 

 have banded patterns. This is best illustrated with I. 



