Brachiacantha dentipes (Fabricius)

(Figs. 13a, b)

Coccinella dentipes Fabricius 1801:381 . Oliver 1808:1051. Say 1835:202.

Brachyacantha dentipes: Mulsant 1850:525 . Crotch 1873:378. Gorham 1894:196. Casey 1899:120. Nunenmacher 1909:162. Leng 1911:300. Korschefsky 1931:204. Wingo 1952:27. Chapin 1974:44.

Brachyacantha socialis Casey 1899:119 . Wingo 1952:27.

Brachyacantha dentipes socialis: Leng 1911:301 .

Brachyacantha dentipes americana Leng 1911: 302 . New synonym.

Brachyacantha dentipes var. separata Leng 1911:301 . Wingo 1952:27.

Brachyacantha dentipes ab. socialis: Korschefsky 1931:204 .

Brachyacantha dentipes ab. separata: Korschefsky 1931:204 .

Brachiacantha dentipes: Gordon 1985:564 .

Type material: Holotype of B. socialis: “ Kansas, Casey bequest 1925, TYPE USNM 35575, socialis Casey ” (US- NMNH) (1♀).

Material examined: More than 400 specimens from the United States of America, Honduras, the Bahamas, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Hosts: According to the labels on the examined material, this species has been collected on Catalpa sp., Citrus sp., Liquidambar styraciflua L., Parthenium sp., Pinus sp., Quercus sp., Q. laevis Walter, Q. laurifolia Michx. and Zanthoxylum sp.

Distribution: From the United States of America to Costa Rica, including Mexico, Honduras and the Bahamas.

Discussion: The name B. dentipes americana was used by Leng for a smaller Central American variation of B. dentipes . Several specimens of the subspecies from the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica and the United States National Museum of Natural History were examined, including male genitalia, and no differences were observed from North American specimens beyond the size. We therefore find no reason to maintain this form as a separate subspecies, and regard it as a synonym of B. dentipes .