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Taxonomy
Cryptocephalus defectus Leconte, 1880
Nomenclature
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Subtribe: Cryptocephalina
SUMMARY
"Schaeffer (1934, p. 457) listed as synonyms of luteolus Newman both defectus and sanfordi Blatchley (=sanfordensis Blatchley, see Clavareau, 1913, p. 182). He stated that he had seen the type of defectus and had received notes on the type of luteolus; however, the species I interpret as luteolus (=sanfordi) has a reddish thorax; that of defectus is described as yellow and not varied. In the USNM collection there is a single individual from Florida that agrees with the descriptions of sanfordi and luteolus and that is clearly distinct from two individuals from Texas which agree with the description of defectus. When a color sketch of one of the latter individuals was sent to the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Dr. Evans informed me that the type of defectus agreed with it. On this basis, I remove defectus from synonymy with luteolus.
"By its description and illustration, nigrovittatus Jacoby (October 1880 p 44) is nearly identical with defectus Leconte (July 1880, p.201). The only difference is the extent of the black stripe on the second interval of the elytra of nigrovittatus; it is described and illustrated as extending past the middle of the interval. In a series of individuals from Central America (Finca, Panama; Yepocapa, Guatemala; and Almolonga, Mexico) that agree with the description of nigrovittatus, however, this vitta is variable in its development. In nine it is as described in the original description, in one it is nearly absent, and in another it is interrupted in the middle. I find no other characters that would reliably serve to distinguish defectus and nigrovittatus, so I have united the two."
(White, 1968).