The Phylogeny of the Elateridae Based on Larval Characters.

Abstract

The object of the present paper is to accentuate the value of studies of the larval characters in attempting a natural classification of the Coleoptera, and to present a new arrangement of the Elateridæ based upon such studies. The paper is preliminary and based largely upon the external characters of the larvæ. Seventy-nine names have been recognized at one time or another for genera occurring in our fauna, but, after considering synonomy and misidentification, this number can be reduced to between forty and fifty. Practically all of the common holoartic genera are represented. Specimens of the larvae of thirtyeight genera have been studied. The fourteen or more genera whose larvæ are still unknown are as follows: The genus Melanactes, containing seven species, two of which are quite common; the genus Esthesopus, containing six species; Paranomus, four; Leptoschema, three; Oxygonus, Eniconyx and Meristhus, two each; and Nothodes, Bladus, Elatrinus, Blauta, Oedostethus, Aptopus and Coptostethus, one each. In the absence of reared material, the characters of the genera Ischnodes, Ectinus, Adrastus, Hypnoidus and Lepturoides were drawn from literature. With these exceptions, the larvæ of species representing all the genera herein treated were examined by the writer and the generic characters drawn from the last larval exuvium of individuals of which the imago was reared and carefully determined. In many of the genera several species were examined.