214 



INSECTS OF SAMOA. 



CASSIDINAE. 



17. Cassida strigula Montrouzier. 



Upolu : Apia, viii.1924, 5 examples. Aleipata, Lalomanu, xi.1924, 1 

 example. Siumu, 26. xi. 1923, 1 example (Armstrong). 



Tutuila : Eastern end of island, 1,070 ft., 21.vi.1918, 4 examples ; 1,000 ft. } 

 25.viii.1918, 1 example ; 1,000-2,000 ft., xii.1918, 1 example ; 760-900 ft., 

 iv.1918, 3 examples (Kellers). Fagassa, 9.ix.l923, 4 examples. Leone Eoad, 

 7.ix.l923, 1 example. Pago Pago, 24.ix.1923, 4 examples (Swezey and Wilder) ; 

 14.xii.1925, 1 example. 



In the British Museum Collection there are two examples collected in 

 Samoa between March and August, 1921, by Dr. F. W. O'Connor ; one of these 

 has been examined by Dr. F. Spaeth. There are others from N. Australia : Port 

 Darwin, 2 examples ; Groote Eylandt, 27.i.l925, 1 example (G. H. Wilkins). 



Mr. P. A. Buxton tells me that the Samoan specimens were found on sweet 

 potatoes, and it is evident that the species has been introduced by commerce.* 



In the Coleopterorum Catalogus (Junk and Schenkling, Berlin, 1914) Cassida 

 strigula Montrouzier is treated by Spaeth as a subspecies of C. diomma Boisduval, 

 which occurs in New Guinea. Herein Spaeth is quite possibly correct, especially 

 in view of the great variation in the colour pattern of these beetles. 



My reason for including this species in Cassida instead of in Metriona is 

 stated in my book, " Fauna of British India, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae 

 (Hispinae and Cassidinae)," pp. 362-363, 1919. 



* It is possible that the introduction took place centuries ago. Sweet potato 

 ("Kumara") was used as food by the Polynesians before the white man entered the Pacific. — 

 P. A. Buxton. 



