14 

 Body Shape 



Most of the species are flattened to slightly convex 

 dorsally; vespertilio Lacordaire and duponti Lacordiare are 

 convex dorsally (Fig. 2a, 2b). Most parallel-sided bodies 

 (Fig. 2c) are flattened dorsally. Most elongate bodies 

 have the sides parabolically rounded (Fig. 2d) and are 

 slightly convex above. Oval bodies (Fig. 2e) are rounded 

 on the sides and can be flattened or convex dorsally. 

 Ovoid bodies are egg-shaped (Fig. 2f) and wider anteriorly 

 and can be flattened or convex dorsally. 

 Color Pattern 



Color patterns are the most useful characters in the 

 recognition of species. Understanding the terms for 

 various aspects of the color pattern is essential in using 

 the key (Fig. 3) . 



A band is a wide transverse marking, wider than long. 

 A stripe is a longitudinal marking, longer than wide. A 

 spot is a small marking, usually circular or elongate. I 

 use the term "fascia" to mean a band that may be broken by 

 additional markings. A free spot is not connected to any 

 margin. A tooth-like spot is a triangular spot connected 

 to a margin. 



The color patterns of most species are variations of a 

 basic pattern. I have named the components of the pattern 

 in reference to its position on the body (Fig. 4) : anterior 

 pronotal, free pronotal, basal pronotal, pronotal hind 

 angle, humeral, subhumeral, scutellar, elytral suture, 



