Polytes speculiger Breddin 1914

Eger J. E., 1994, New synonymy in the genus Polytes Stal (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), Florida Entomologist 77, No. 3, pp. 376-378 : 377

Polytes speculiger Breddin 1914

12(11). Head broadly rounded anteriorly............................................................. 12’ Head narrowly rounded anteriorly...........................................................13

12’(12). Pronotum with two large yellow to red macules, each with distinct brown to black lanceolate intrusion from posterior margin; larger, 9.5-10.9 long ............................................................................................. P. ruth (Breddin) Pronotum with four evenly spaced macules; smaller, 8.9 long.................... ...................................................................................... P. discrepans (Uhler)

Polytes speculiger Breddin 1914:53-54 .

Polytes quechuus Eger 1990:137-139 , figs. 104-109. New Synonymy.

I overlooked Breddin’s paper when researching the Polytes revision. His description clearly indicates the presence of an impunctate area on the pronotum, a diagnostic character for this species, and leaves little doubt that my species is a junior synonym of his. I have not been able to locate Breddin’s types although one of the paratypes of P. quechuus was a syntype of P. fenestra Breddin, 1903 , and was certainly seen by him. It bore no labeling to indicate that it was a type of P. speculiger , though. Breddin also described two varieties (as ‘var. a’ and ‘var. b’) and suggested that these may be synonymous with P. bicolor and P. leopardinus . The color forms he described were also seen by me and are apparently typical for P. speculiger .