Ift €iinatlmt| mntamolanbt. 



Vol. XXXI. 



LONDON, FEBRUARY, 1899. 



No. 2. 



THE COLEOPTERA OF CANADA.. 



BY H. F. WICKHAM, IOWA CITY, IOWA. 



XXX. The Lucanid/e of Ontario and Quebec. 



This family is of small extent, and the members are as a rule easily 

 recognized by their peculiar habitus. In the genera Lticanus, Dorcus, 

 Platycerus and Ceruchus the males are marked by a greater development 

 of the mandibles, associated in turn with a greater or less broadening of 

 the head. The antennae differ from those of the Scarabfeidje (to which 

 family the Lucanidpe are closely allied) in not having the plates of the 

 club completely opposable. In other words, the club is pectinate rather 

 than lamellate. These organs offer a good character for the division of 

 the family into two divisions — the first containing those genera in which 

 the antennae are geniculate (/. e., crooked like a bent knee, the second 

 and following joints forming an angle with the first, as shown in the figure 

 of Lncanus dama, fig. 12), while the second is composed of those in 

 which they are straight. The male antennae frequently differ from those 

 of the female, but it is not necessary to enter into details for the purpose 

 of this paper. 



So far as known, the larvae of the North American species are 

 lignivorous, feeding upon dead wood in various stages of decay. They 

 resemble in general form those of the larger Scarabaeidae, and may often 



be seen under logs in the woods. 

 Some of them construct a cocoon of 

 chips before passing into the pupal 

 state. (Fig. 1 1 represents the larva 

 and cocoon oi Lucatius dama.) 



The genera found in our region 

 may be separated by the following 

 table, which is but slightly changed 

 from that of Mr. Chas. Fuchs in his 

 synopsis of the family : 



