216 



MORDELLA. 



It does not appear to be possible, so far as the main 

 genus is concerned, to prepare a table that could be implicitly 

 relied upon, or that would be of even reasonable assistance 

 towards the identification of our species; but I have appor- 

 tioned the species into various divisions and groups, and the 

 patterns given should be of some assistance. The divisions, 

 etc . , are as follows : — 



Div. 1. Derm of prothorax and elytra not both entirely 

 black. d7) 



blanda, calodema, caloptera, caroli t distincta, 

 humeralis, obliquirufa, pallida, ^-maculata, 

 ruficollis, subvittata, V-fasciata, wiburdi. 

 Div. 2. Derm of prothorax and elytra entirely black. 

 Group 1. Elytra with conspicuous pale clothing con- 

 densed into spots or fasciae. 



Subg. 1. Species of large size.d 8 ) 



chrysophora, conspecta, dumbrelli^ 19 ^ elonga- 

 tula, leucosticta, multiguttata, notabilis, 

 8-maculata, ovalisticta, l^-maculata, vitti- 

 collis. 



Subg. 2. Abdomen red. 

 pulchra. 



Subg. 3. Of medium or small size and derm of 

 abdomen black. 



adipata, alphabetica, auronotata, australis, 

 bella, brevis, calopasa,( 20 ) cara, elegans, felix, 

 grapkiptera, hamatilis, iridea, metasternalis, 

 norfolcensis,( 21 > notatipennis 9-maculata^ 2 ^ 

 obsoleta, 18-maculata,( 2 ^ promiscua, pulver- 

 ulenta, sydneyana, V-aurea. 



(17) On many of the black species with white markings on the 

 elytra the shoulders are often diluted with red below the clothing, 

 but in such cases the red is inconspicuous — for instance, nothing 

 like as distinct as on humeralis — consequently these have not been 

 regarded as belonging to Div. 1. 



(18) In this group the prothoracic markings are usually also 

 on a different plan to those of the smaller species. 



(19) Some specimens of this species are no larger than the 

 average size of 9-maculata, but the prothoracic markings are those 

 of the larger species. 



(20) Some specimens of this species might be regarded as 

 belonging to Div. 1. 



(21) A variety of this species appears at first glance to belong 

 to Group 3. 



(22) Of rather large size for this subgroup, but much below the 

 average size of those of Subg. 1. 



(23) Although of small size the prothoracic markings of this 

 species are more like those of Subg. 1. 



