244 



Type . The lectotype (here designated) of Ischyrus 

 vespertilio Lacordaire label data: "/ Colombie/ Vespertilio 

 Lac./ Type/ Ex-Musaeo Mniszech/ [red] TYPE/ [pale blue] 

 Museum Paris ex Coll. R. Oberthur 1952/ [red] LECTOTYPE 

 Ischyrus vespertilio Lacordaire des .P . E . Skelley 1993/" 

 [MNHN, studied] . Sex not determined. 



Specimens examined . Only the lectotype was studied. 



Distribution . Reported by Lacordaire to be from 

 Colombia and Mexico (Tabasco) (Fig. 123). Gorham (1887:40) 

 did not see any specimens of this species from Central 

 America . 



Etymology . vespertilio: Latin = bat. Perhaps some 

 part of this specie's color pattern reminded Lacordaire of a 

 bat. 



Taxonomic notes . A lectotype was designated because 

 Lacordaire stated that he saw specimens from 2 localities. 

 The lectotype fits the original description and is reported 

 to have been studied by Lacordaire (see Locating Types) . 



Remarks . Ischyrus vespertilio is most closely related 

 to I. duponti Lacordaire, in body shape, antennal structure, 

 and pronotal color pattern (2 large free spots) . Ischyrus 

 duponti has a large free central spot on each elytron; I. 

 vespertilio has the central elytral spot large, triangular, 

 and broadly connected to the suture. These species are 

 provisionally left in Ischyrus because they possess most of 



