REMARKS ON AGONODERUS COMMA Fab., PALLIPES Fab., RUGICOLLIS Lec., AND TACHYCELLUS (Bradycllus) ATRIMEDIUS Say

Extract

Experience in exchanging Coleoptera shows that the first two and the last of these forms are greatly confused in collections. Their appearances are so similar as easily to deceive, and they are only to be separated by a close observance of two or three characters. Comma and atrimedius are abundant here, and pallipes is not rare. Comma and pallipes are usually confounded, the former being labelled pallipes; and atrimedius is often marked pallipes also. The typical comma has a black vitta on each elytron extending from the first to the fifth stria, which does not reach the apex, and may be more or less abbreviated anteriorly. The vitta on each elytron is therefore separated by a yellow suture. The scutellar stria is long. The typical pallipes has a broad black vitta on the disk of the elytra extending from the fourth stria on one side to the same on the other, and not separated by a yellow suture. It does not reach the apex and may be abbreviated in front, in which case it is narrowed towards the scutellum. The scutellar stria is short. The thoracic characters are omitted here, being so inconstant as to be of no diagnostic value. Had all the specimens of each species the typical coloration as given, recognition by this character would be easy; but the extent of variation is so great as to render it absolutely useless. While I have not yet seen a specimen of comma without the yellow suture, many specimens of pallipes occur with it where the broad elytral vitta is abbreviated and disintegrated so as to form a short, narrow vitta on each side. The vitta of comma is similarly reduced, and the separation by color becomes impossible. In other specimens of each the colors are so suffused and blended as to present no typical characters.