pudica-group

4 spp. in our area(1), 2 range into Canada(1)(2):

1. C. comanche (southwestern, United States: AZ, CA, CO, NM, TX)(1)

2. C. externa (southeastern, United States: FL, SC, TX)(1)

3. C. harrisii (eastern, Canada: ON; United States: DC, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, TN, TX, WI)(1)

4. C. rufilabris (widespread eastern, Canada: NB, ON, United States: DC, FL, GA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI)(1)

Our members of the pudica-group are noted for their pointed hind wingtips and single stripe on the genae instead of two as in the carnea-group. Species identification is often more possible than in the carnea group due to different coloration (including the wing cross-veins or gradates). Traits of coloration between the species are as follows:(3)

1. C. comanche: broad red stripe on genae, sometimes red marks behind eyes, sometimes middle black spot on pronotum, vein gradates green but sometimes with gray inner gradates

2. C. externa: often narrower red stripe on genae, red mark behind eyes, usually lateral red stripes on the pronotum, green vein gradates

3. C. harrisii: broad red stripe on genae, broad red marks behind eyes, pronotum corner each with anterior brown spot, wing venation entirely green

4. C. rufilabris: extensively red genae, ofted red marks behind eyes, black vein gradates and cross-veins

Left to right: C. comanche, C. externa, C. harrisii, and C. rufilabris