REVISION OF ELEODIINI BLAISDELL. 495 



treated in this piq)er. The only articles accessible are those of Carl 

 F. Gissler °. Some of the figures are so very poor in these papers 

 before nie that they are of little use. 



Mr. Gissler writes that in studying- the larval states of the Tene- 

 brionida? we find that there is scarcely a coleopterous family whose 

 members are homologically so closely allied and correlatively alike, 

 and are all referable to three typical larval forms: 



1. Those having homogeneous corneous segments, cylindrical in 

 longitudinal series, the stigmata situated in the pleurites. Example, 

 that of Tenehrio. 



2. Form more compact, with only the prothoracic segments corne- 

 ous and abdominal segments slightly arcuate. The dorsal segments 

 do not overlap, forming a marginal bead, above which (on the tergal 

 part of the segment) the abdominal stigmata are situated. Example, 

 that of B(>Jitoph<i<jiis and BolitothcrHS. 



3. Clypeus not entirely separated, mandibles more strongly dentate, 

 terminal joint of labial palpi large and truncate, pygidium without 

 articulated spines. 



The larvie of the EJcod'tinl belong to the first form. They are elon- 

 gately cylindrical, resembling those of the Elaterida^, wdiich are com- 

 monly called wireworms. 



The former differ in having the cardo of the maxilhe connate and a 

 transverse impression innnediately behind the clypeus, thus apj^ar- 

 ently separating the same from the front, and also by the better de- 

 veloped labruni (Gissler). 



Very young lar\tehave their antennal joints more globular than the 

 older ones. In full-grown larvae of the Eleodiini the first joint of 

 the antemue is nnich shorter than the second, its substance soft, non- 

 chitinized and retractile; its position is in a minute cavity, which is 

 surrounded by a semi-circular ridge (Gissler). 



William R. Erichson has described this as the first joint in the larva 

 of Tiiwhrio.^ 



From my dissections I regard this simply as the l)asal articulation 

 with its membrane. Compare figs. 9 and 10, Plate 13. It is quite 

 evident that the antenntip are retractile, but wdien dissected out it is 

 composed of only three joints. 



Mr. (lissler obtained eggs of Elcodes gig ant ea from specimens kept 

 in captivity. These were discovered in October, and measured in 

 length 0.8 mm. ; width, 0.85 nnn. ; elongate oval and milk white in 



"Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. for 1S7.S-1S79, I, No. 1, p. 11; No. 3, p. 18; No. 11, 

 p. sri. 



* See Arcliiv fiir Xalurtceschiclite, 1S41, p. 3G5. 



