Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Elateridae Leach, 1815

Abstract

Diversity in Peru: 8 subfamilies, 43 genera, 164 species. Recognition: The beetles of this family are immediately recognized by their generally elongate and narrow body, a disproportionately large and loosely attached prothorax that rapidly articulates with the mesothorax to “snap” the body for predator escape and self-righting; serrate to pectinate antennae; large prosternum; large subtriangular hypomeron; large subquadrate metaventrite; and slender legs with long pentamerous tarsus, usually with ventral setal brushes or membranous pads. Habitat: Elaterids are found primarily in forests, savannas, thorn-forests, and scrublands, with different taxa between wet and dry vegetation types. Some are specialized by larval adaptions to arboreal and terrestrial bromeliads, epiphyte mats on large tree limbs, sandy riparian soils, grassland soils, or various stages of internal decay of dead and dying trees. Adult activity is short-lived and mostly crepuscular and nocturnal, especially in warm to hot environments. Mid and upper elevation species are often diurnal. They feed at high-carbohydrate sources such as plant wounds and weeps, floral and extra-floral nectaries, decaying fruits, plant glandular exudates, but also predate on small plant-feeding arthropods. Larvae are mostly predators under loose bark, within decaying wood, among roots and rhizomes of epiphytes, leaf axils of bromeliads, and in soil. Some species are rhizophages in soil. Notes: The checklist of Elateridae is based on Gemminger and Harold (1869),