Key to the Alabama Species and Subspecies of Cryptocepalus
Cryptocephalus badius Suffrian
Cryptocephalus binominis binominis Newman
Cryptocephalus bispinus Suffrian
Cryptocephalus bivius Newman
Cryptocephalus calidus Suffrian
Cryptocephalus gibbicollis gibbicollis Haldeman
Cryptocephalus guttulatus Olivier
Cryptocephalus incertus Olivier
Cryptocephalus insertus Haldeman
Cryptocephalus leucomelas leucomelas Suffrian
Cryptocephalus mutabilis Melsheimer
Cryptocephalus nanus Fabricius
Cryptocephalus notatus quadrimaculatus Say
Cryptocephalus obsoletus obsoletus Germar
Cryptocephalus pumilus Haldeman
Cryptocephalus quadruplex Newman
Cryptocephalus schreibersii Suffrian
Cryptocephalus tinctus LeConte*
Cryptocephalus trivittatus Olivier
Cryptocephalus trizonatus Suffrian
Cryptocephalus venustus Fabricius

Key to the Alabama Species and Subspecies of Cryptocephalus

1. Prothorax entirely black or dark red, elytra each with humeral and apical red spots….. 2
    Prothorax pale or with other markings….. 4
2. Basal spot not attaining scutellum….. 3
    Basal spot attaining scutellum….. C. notatus quadrimaculatus
3. Basal spot at its apex attaining at least first interval and often suture….. C. binominis       binominis
     Basal spot at its apex rarely extending inward beyond 3rd interval….. C. quadruplex
4. Elytra pale and immaculate, vittate, fasciate, or maculate….. 5
    Elytra entirely black….. C. nanus
5. Elytra entirely pale without markings….. 6
    Elytra with definite markings….. 8
6. Pronotum smooth, punctate, but not rugulose….. 7
    Pronotum rugulose….. C. schreibersii
7. Pronotum densely, somewhat strigosely punctate; large species (length 4.6-5.8 mm.)….. C.      obsoletus obsoletus
    Pronotum sparsely punctate; small species (length 2.3-2.5 mm.)….. C. pumilus
8. Elytra vittate….. 9
    Elytra maculate or fasciate….. 17
9. Punctures at elytral apex confused and completely obscuring inner and outer rows of       punctures….. 10
     Puncture at elytral apex not or but slightly confused, inner and outer rows of punctures       always distinct and usually clearly meeting….. 11
10. Pronotum not rugulose….. C. incertus
      Pronotum rugulose….. C. schreibersii
11. Pronotum not as below….. 12
      Pronotum with a broad, arched, longitudinal, median, dark spot, bordered each side by        generally distinct yellow stripes….. C. trivittatus
12. Anterior margin of prostemum with a stout spine or distinct V-shaped lobe….. 13
      Anterior margin of prosternum simple, evenly arcuate, or with a broadly rounded or slightly        pointed lobe….. 14
13. Elytral vittae indistinct, light to dark reddish, rarely partly black; striae more distinct, discal      intervals convex; discal pronotal punctures separated on an average by about their diameters,      tending to become strigate….. C. obsoletus obsoletus
     Elytral vittae quite distinct, black, rarely dark red; striae finer, discal intervals flat; discal      pronotal punctures round, separated on an average by 2 or more times their diameters….. C.      venustus
14. Elytral epipleuron partly black, lateral raised margin yellow to orange; pronotum normal to        somewhat gibbous….. 15
      Elytral epipleuron all or mostly black, lateral raised margin dark or black; pronotum gibbous        to strongly gibbous….. C. gibbicollis gibbicollis
15. Averaging smaller (length 4.0-5.7 mm.); males and females….. 16
      Averaging larger (length 5.4-6.7 mm.); females….. C. bispinus
16. Outer elytral vitta complete….. C. calidus
      Outer elytral vitta interrupted once, twice, or nearly absent, sometimes confluent with inner        vitta….. C. insertus
17. Pronotum vittate….. 18
      Pronotum not vittate….. 19
18. Elytra yellow with basal band deeply emarginate mesad of humeri, and with 4 medial and 4        subapical spots brown….. C. bivius
      Elytra yellow with 2 discal fasciae, 4 subapical and several lateral spots black….. C.        leucomelas leucomelas
19. Pronotum smooth, punctate or impunctate; elytra not as below….. 20
      Pronotum longitudinally rugulose; elytra dirty yellow, occasionally with 3 faint brown        narrow zigzag fasciae….. C. schreibersii
20. Pronotum not fasciate, at times with a small darker discal spot….. 21
      Pronotum shining, impunctate, with a broad brown fascia the lateral ends of which taper and       meet the pronotal edge….. C. trizonatus
21. Elytra dark with yellow spots….. 22
      Elytra light with dark spots….. 23
22. Each elytron with 8 spots….. C. guttulatus
      Each elytron with 6 spots, basal 2 more or less confluent….. C. badius
23. Each elytron with 3 basal spots, 2 lateral spots, 2 subapical spots, and large common discal        spot all brown….. C. mutabilis
      Elytra with brown spots; paired, oblique basal spots, and paired discal, which connect along        the suture with paired subapical spots….. C. tinctus

Cryptocephalus badius Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 6: 315.
     Elongate. Head brownish with yellow in emarginations of eyes and on clypeus. Pronotum brownish, impunctate, shining. Elytra brownish with 12 yellow spots; 4 basal ones somewhat confluent, 2 medial, 2 subapical, and 2 apical. Length 4.2 mm. Width 2.5 mm.
     Alabama records: 3 specimens from Colbert^2,3, Houston¹, and Lee¹ counties.
     Seasonal distribution: June 16-August 10.

Cryptocephalus binominis binominis Newman

Cryptocephalus binominis Newman, 1841, Entomol. 5: 78.
     Pronotum usually black or else dark red throughout. Each elytron black or dark red with light orange to red spots. Humeral spot attaining suture at its posterior end. Basal spot never touching humeral spot. Length 3.6-4.8 mm.
     Alabama records: No specific county listed.
     Remarks: White (93) recorded this species from Alabama and indicated that a single specimen was taken on Pinus sylvestris.

Cryptocephalus bispinus Suffrian

Cryptocephalus bispinus Suffrian, 1858, Linn. Entomol. 12: 347.
     Pronotum red to orange with lighter basal oblique spots, lateral and apical margin orange or yellow, rarely almost entirely red. Elytra creamy yellow to orange with 2 dark orange to red or even black vittae: from base of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intervals to apex of 1st interval always complete, and one from humerus to apex of 4th, 5th, and 6th intervals, nearly always complete. Length 4.0-6.7 mm.
     Alabama records: No specific county listed.
     Remarks: White (93) recorded this species from Alabama. He also stated that males of bispinus from the Southeastern States will key to C. calidus Suffrian. Only the females in this part of their range are distinguishable.

Cryptocephalus bivius Newman

Cryptocephalus bivius Newman, 1840, Mag. Nat. Hist. 4: 347.
     Elongate. Head with frons yellow, clypeus red-brown, and occiput dark brown. Pronotum yellow with 4 broad, sometimes confluent brownish black vittae. Elytra yellow with 4 large, somewhat confluent, basal spots, 4 distinct medial and 4 distinct apical brownish spots. Length 5.3 mm. Width 3.2 mm.
     Alabama records: Mobile^2,3 County.
     Remarks: The only specimen seen was collected or reared (?) November 12 from Taxodium distichum. The specimen carries a Schaeffer determination label.

Cryptocephalus calidus Suffrian

Cryptocephalus calidus Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 6:241.
Cryptocephalus carinatus LeConte, 1880, Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 8: 202.
     Pronotum orange to dark red, usually with 2 light, oblique basal spots and with lateral and apical margins yellowish or lighter. Elytra creamy yellow to orange with dark vittae. Each elytron with 2 longitudinal black vittae: from base of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intervals to or near apex of 2nd interval, and from humerus to apex of 4th and combined 5th, 6th, and 7th intervals, frequently interrupted once. Length 4.2-5.6 mm.
     Alabama records: No specific county listed.
     Remarks: White (93) reported this species from Alabama and indicated that Lathyrus iaponicus and Lespedeza cuneata are host plants.

Cryptocephalus gibbicollis gibbicollis Haldeman

Cryptocephalus gibbicollis Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 252.
     Pronotum orange to red, nearly always with 2 vague oblique, yellowish spots at base; lateral and apical margins more or less yellow. Elytra creamy yellow to very light orange with black markings. Each elytron with 2 complete black vittae: from base of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intervals to apex of 2nd interval; from humerus to apex of 7th to 4th intervals. Anterior margin of prosternum in both sexes somewhat produced into broad lobe. Length 5.2-7.1 mm.
     Alabama records: No specific county listed.
     Remarks: White (93) reported this species from Alabama and listed Kalmia angustifolia as a host plant.

Cryptocephalus guttulatus Olivier

Cryptocephalus guttulatus Olivier, 1808, Entomol. ou Hist. Nat. des Insectes. . . Coléoptères      VI, p. 815.
Cryptocephalus lautus Newman, 1840, Mag. Nat. Hist. 4: 250.
     Oblong. Head yellow, frons medially more brownish. Pronotum strongly convex, tan, anterior margin and posterior comers sometimes yellow; impunctate, shining. Elytral ground color usually black but varying at times to brown; elytra with 6 basal, 4 medial, 4 subapical, and 2 apical yellow spots. Length 4.2-5.6 mm. Width 2.5-3.2 mm.
     Alabama records: 6 specimens from Baldwin¹, Dallas¹, Lee¹, and Mobile² counties.
     Seasonal distribution: May 1-August 24.

Cryptocephalus incertus Olivier

Cryptocephalus incertus Olivier, 1808, Entomol. ou Hist. Nat. des Insectes. . . Coléoptères VI,      p. 814.
Cryptocephalus lineolatus Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 249.
     Elongate. Head brown, inner margin of eyes yellow. Pronotum brown; lateral and anterior margins, and 2 oblique basal spots yellow, shining, moderately punctate. Elytra yellow with brown sutural vitta and 2 brown lateral vittae, the latter originating basally from 4th and 5th interstrial spaces and then shifting to 5th and 6th, and finally to 6th alone or with connections to either 5th or 7th. Length 3.0-3.9 mm. Width 1.8-2.3 mm.
     Alabama records: 9 specimens from Baldwin¹, Houston¹, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
     Seasonal distribution: April 18-August 14.

Cryptocephalus insertus Haldeman

Cryptocephalus insertus Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 252.
Cryptocephalus ellipsoidalis Casey, 1884, Bull. Brooklyn Entomol. Soc. 7: 66.
     Robust. Head brown, yellow around medial margin of eyes or more broadly yellow. Pronotum rusty brown with margins and 2 oblique basal spots yellow, impunctate, shining. Elytra yellow with 2 oblique black vittae, medial vitta originating midbasally and extending to 3/4 sutural length; lateral vitta originating at humerus and extending posteriorly to in front of apex. Either vitta sometimes interrupted. Prosternum truncate anteriorly, posterior corners as processes projecting caudally; surface flat, feebly convex, or medially carinate. Length 4.2-7.0 mm. Width 2.5-4.2 mm.
     Alabama records: 28 specimens from Baldwin¹, Chilton¹, Etowah², Franklin¹, Henry¹, Lee¹, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
     Seasonal distribution: June 3-November 1.
     Remarks: Five of the Alabama records are ANSP specimens.

Cryptocephalus leucomelas leucomelas Suffrian

Cryptocephalus leucomelas Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 7: 36.
     Elongate. Head shining; yellow, clypeus brown. Pronotum yellow, with 4 black vittae. Elytra yellow with black pre- and postmedial fasciae; paired sutural spots and lateral marginal spots. Length 4.6-5.8 mm. Width 2.5-3.2 mm.
     Alabama records: 10 specimens from Etowah², Lee¹, and Tuscaloosa² counties.
     Seasonal distribution: June 24-July 31.
     Remarks: The species has been swept from Salix sp.

Cryptocephalus mutabilis Melsheimer

Cryptocephalus mutabilis Melsheimer, 1848, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 172.
Cryptocephalus dispersus Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 248.
Cryptocephalus discoideus Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 7: 49.
     Robust. Head yellow, antennal sockets and vertex brown. Pronotum brown, margined with yellow and occasionally with 2 oblique yellow basal spots; shining, faintly punctate. Elytra yellow with large central spot, 6 small basal spots, 2 or 4 midlateral spots, and 4 apical spots brown. Length 5.3-6.8 mm. Width 3.3-4.2 mm.
     Alabama records: 7 specimens from Jackson² and Mobile^2,3 counties.
     Seasonal distribution: June 26-August 5.

Cryptocephalus nanus Fabricius

Cryptocephalus nanus Fabricius, 1801, Syst. Eleuth. II, p. 56.
     Oblong. Head tan, shining. Pronotum strongly convex, impunctate, shining, tan, base a bit more yellowish. Scutellum tan. Elytra black, striae deeply impressed. Prosternum emarginate anteriorly. Length 3.2 mm. Width 1.8 mm.
     Alabama records: 1 specimen from Mobile^2,3 County.
     Seasonal distribution: May 29.

Cryptocephalus notatus quadrimaculatus Say

Cryptocephalus quadrimaculatus Say, 1824, Desc. of Coleopt. Insects. . . Acad. Nat. Sci.      Philadelphia 3: 441.
     Oblong. Head black. Pronotum black, shining. Elytra black with red humeral spots which extend across base and back from humeri along sides; apical spots red. Length 4.4-5.8 mm. Width 2.5-3.3 mm.
     Alabama records: 15 specimens from Lee¹, Marion¹, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
     Seasonal distribution: April 21-June 11.
     Remarks: The subspecies C. n. quadrimaculatus Say was the only one seen from Alabama. Five specimens were in the F. R. Mason collection (ANSP).

Cryptocephalus obsoletus obsoletus Germar

Cryptocephalus obsoletus Germar, 1824, Insectorum sp. novo au minus cognitae, p. 559.
Cryptocephalus ornatus Suffrian [not Fabricius], 1852, Linn. Entomol. 7: 229.
     Robust, yellow. Head yellow. Pronotum yellow, densely punctate, punctures slightly strigose. Elytra yellow, humeri dark brown, 2 obsolescent oblique vittae occasionally present on each elytron. Length 4.6-5.8 mm. Width 2.8-3.7 mm.
     Alabama records: 14 specimens from Lee¹ and Mobile^2,3 counties.
     Seasonal distribution: May 5-0ctober 25.

Cryptocephalus pumilus Haldeman

Cryptocephalus pumilus Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 249.
Cryptocephalus pseudolus Suffrian, 1858, Linn. Entomol. 12: 373.
     Oblong, very small, entirely yellowish to dirty yellow. Pronotum shining, sparsely punctate. Elytral striae not deeply impressed, 7th short. Prosternum flat, apical margin truncate. Length 2.3-2.5 mm. Width 1.2-1.4 mm.
     Alabama records: 6 specimens from Mobile^2,3 County.
     Seasonal distribution: May 3-0ctober 28.

Cryptocephalus quadruplex Newman

Cryptocephalus quadruplex Newman, 1841, The Entomol. 1: 78.
Cryptocephalus quadriguttulus Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 7: 65.
     Elongate. Head black. Pronotum black. Elytra black with 4 red spots: 2 apical spots and 2 shoulder spots, posterior portions of latter broad medially. Length 3.2-4.9 mm. Width 1.8-2.8 mm.
     Alabama records: 12 specimens from Cleburne¹, Etowah², Lee¹, Madison¹, Marion¹, Mobile², Tallapoosa¹, and Wilcox¹ counties.
     Seasonal distribution: April 21-July 11.

Cryptocephalus schreibersii Suffrian

Cryptocephalus rugicollis Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 258      (preoccupied).
Cryptocephalus schreibersii Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 6: 288.
     Elongate. Head brown, inner margins of eyes and genae yellow: frons coarsely punctate. Pronotum brown, margins yellow: longitudinally rugulose. Elytra yellow, occasionally with faint zigzag fasciae. Length 3.5-4.6 mm. width 1.9-2.5 mm.
     Alabama records: 13 specimens from Lee¹, Macon¹, Mobile^2,3, Russell¹ and Tallapoosa¹ counties.
     Seasonal distribution: March 16-November 22.
     Remarks: This species has been taken in light traps and by beating or sweeping. We have noted Juniperus virginiana as the host for a single specimen.

Cryptocephalus tinctus LeConte*

Cryptocephalus fasciatus Say, 1824, Desc. of Coleopt. Insects. . . Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia      3: 437.
Cryptocephalus tinctus LeConte, 1880, Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 8: 203.
     Elongate. Head brown, inner margins of eyes and clypeus yellow, frons deeply, densely punctate. Pronotum shining, punctate, yellow with brown medial area. Elytra yellow; humeri, confluent oblique basal spots, and medial fascia connecting with subapical fascia brown. Elytral apexes without strial impressions, roughly concave and deeply punctate. Prosternum anteriorly truncate. Length 4.2 mm. Width 2.5 mm.
     Alabama records: 1 specimen from Baldwin¹ County.
     Seasonal distribution: March 20.
     Remarks: Balsbaugh collected this single specimen by sweeping an ericaceous plant, 6 miles west of Alabama Highway 63 at the Styx River.

Cryptocephalus trivittatus Olivier

Cryptocephalus trivittatus Olivier, 1808, Entomol., ou Hist. Nat. des Insectes . . . Coléoptères      VI., p. 824.
Cryptocephalus lixus Newman, 1840, Mag. Nat. Hist. 4: 250.
Cryptocephalus vittatus Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 250      [preoccupied, original spelling vitatus].
     Robust. Head yellow, alutaceous; antennal bases and vertex brown, connected by faint brown triangle in some specimens, clypeal suture a deep groove. Pronotum yellow, alutaceous, faintly, densely punctate with brown medial and paired lateral, broad, arched vittae. Elytra yellow, striae deeply impressed, sutural vitta, 2 long lateral vittae from humeri, and 2 short basal mid-elytral vittae brown, the latter sometimes absent. Length 3.5-4.4 mm. Width 2.1-2.8 mm.
     Alabama records: 5 specimens from Escambia¹, Mobile^2,3, and Tallapoosa¹ counties.
     Seasonal distribution: July 9-29.

Cryptocephalus trizonatus Suffrian

Cryptocephalus tricinctus Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 7: 34 [preoccupied].
Cryptocephalus trizonatus Suffrian, 1858, Linn. Entomol. 12: 372.
     Oblong. Head with frons light yellow; clypeus and antennal bases light brown, occiput dark brown. Pronotum shining, impunctate; yellow with medial brown fascia. Elytra yellow with post basal and subapical fasciae, and apical margin brown. Length 3.9 mm. Width 2.5 mm.
     Alabama records: 1 specimen from Franklin^2,3 County.
     Seasonal distribution: June 10.
     Remarks: This specimen was taken by Loding at Rockwood.

Cryptocephalus venustus Fabricius

Cryptocephalus venustus Fabricius, 1787, Mantissa Insect. I., p. 79.
Cryptocephalus ornatus Fabricius, 1798, Supp. Entomol. Syst. p. 106 [preoccupied].
Cryptocephalus cinctipennis Randall, 1838, Boston Jour. Nat. Hist. 2: 45. New synonymy      [subsp.].
Cryptocephalus hamatus Melsheimer, 1848, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 173. New      synonymy [subsp.].
Cryptocephalus simplex Haldeman, 1849, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 249. New      synonymy [subsp.].
Cryptocephalus flaccidus Suffrian, 1852, Linn. Entomol. 6: 239.
Cryptocephalus ornatulus Clavareau, 1913, Coleopt. Cat. pars. 53, p. 194. New synonymy      [subsp.]
     Robust. Head yellow, frons marked with brown. Pronotum rusty brown with margins and 2 oblique basal spots yellow, densely punctate. Elytra yellow with 2 black oblique vittae, medial originating midbasally and terminating along the suture about 3/4 back; lateral originating at humerus and ending just before apex. Prosternum with apical lobe or cusp, posterior edge entire. Length 5.3-6.1 mm. Width 3.5-4.0 mm.
     Alabama records: 9 specimens from Baldwin¹, Etowah¹, Lee¹, Macon¹, Mobile², Tuscaloosa², and Wilcox¹ counties.
     Remarks: This species is very similar to C. insertus Haldeman. It differs by having the anterior prosternal lobe and the pronotum punctate. Specimens from the Southern United States tend to be a bit larger than those from the North.
     Besides C. insertus, another similar form is Cryptocephalus obsoletus Germar, which also has a densely punctate pronotum and a prosternal anterior lobe, but this species differs by having the elytral vittae obsolete.
     Although White (93) uses subspecific names for different infraspecific forms, he admits that these forms are not correlated geographically. We have chosen not to use the subspecific names of this species, but rather to consider them as new synonyms of C. venustus Fabricius, at least until such time as the various color variants are more thoroughly studied.