HOW TO KNOW THE IMMATURE INSECTS 



53a. Legs short but with normal segments. 



Fig. 233 Family THROSCIDAE 



The members of this small 

 family are of small size and 

 are known as "pseudo click 

 beetles". The adults are found 

 on flowers but not much is 

 known about the habits of the 

 larvae. 



Fig. 233. ThroscMS sp. 



7smmrir>, 



53b. Legs vestigial or absent. Fig. 234 Family EUCNEMIDAE 



Less than 100 species 

 are known for North 

 America. The larvae have 

 the head parts enlarged 

 and closely resemble the 

 buprestid larvae. They 



bore in wood usually that is just beginning to decay and are fairly 



common. 



Fig. 234. Melasis rufipennis Horn. 



54a. Gular area well developed and quadrate. 

 Fig. 235 55 



Fig. 235. Ventral as- 

 pect of head. 



54b. Gulor area small and indistinct, or represented only by a median 

 gidar suture. Fig. 236 Family ELATERIDAE 



This family is a large one 

 with about 8,000 known spe- 

 cies. The larvae are called 

 wireworms and are well 

 known pests of farm and 

 garden. They are mostly 

 subterranean and phytopha- 

 gous. Some are predacious 

 •upon white grubs and a 

 number of species inhabit 

 decaying wood and prey 

 upon the xylophagous lar- 

 vae. 



Fig. 236. A wireworm. 



95 



