PAEOPSIDES. 



73 



47. Paropsides duodecimpustulata, Gebler, var. hieroglyphica, 

 Gebler. 



Paropsis hieroglyphica, Gebl., in Hummel, Essais ent. iv, 1825, 

 p. 55 ; Jac, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1888, p. 348 ; Marseul, Abeille, 

 xxvii, ].889, p. 146; Jacobson, Hor. Ross, xxvii, 1892 (1893), 

 p. 123; Weise, Arch. Nature?, lxvii, 1901, p. 169; Jacobs., Kaf. 

 Ru&sl 1909, pi. 57, f. 40. 



Body oval, convex. Colour dark brown to light brown with 

 the following pattern of black spots and patches on the head, 

 pronotum and elytra: two patches on the head, three roundish 

 patches on the pronotum, one occupying the middle and each of 

 the others the lateral areas ; on each elytron, three transverse 

 lines — one basal, one median and the third postmedian — of more 



Fig. 23.— Paropsides duodecimpustulata, Grebl., var. hieroglyphica, Gebl. 



or less longitudinal patches, five in each line; some may befmore 

 elongate than others and some may be only small spots ; besides 

 this pattern of spots there is generally one small roundish spot on 

 the apical area, so that there are altogether sixteen patches on 

 each elytron ; in the median series the second and third patches 

 counting outwards from the suture are generally joined. 



The above description of the pattern is drawn up from var. 

 hieroglyphica, which is a definite variety, to* which all the 

 specimens of this species from our faunistic area belong. In 

 the typical form of P. duodecimpustulata some of the spots and 

 patches are greatly enlarged and coalesce to form bands, thereby 

 suffusing the surface with so much black that the yellow-brown 

 ground-colour is considerably reduced, and the insect possesses 

 yellow-brown patches on a black ground. In such individuals 



