No. 2323. LARVAE OF THE CLERIDAE—BO VINO AND CHAMPLAIN. 587 



The Spiracles (sp) vary considerably in the family and provide a 

 character of high systematic value. The genus Necrohia has large, 

 annuiar-bifore spiracles with circular peritrema and well-developed, 

 finger-shaped tubes. Thaneroclerus^ a genus distinctly different from 

 all other genera in the family, has small annuiar-bifore spiraclevS. The 

 genera Enoclerus, Galeruclerus^ and others, have pseudo-annular 

 spiracles, which means that the spiracles only apparently are ring- 

 shaped, but in reality, as seen with high power magnification, annu- 

 iar-bifore with a pair of very small finger-like tubes extending 

 backwards from the posterior margin of the ring-shaped peritrema. 

 In a few species of Enoclerus the posterior abdominal spiracles are 

 annuiar-bifore, thus indicating the rather close relationship between 

 the two genera Enoclerus and Neci'ohia. Finally, in genera as Gyraa- 

 todera^ Priocera, Hydnocera^ and others, the spiracles are all plain 

 annular. The first thoracic spiracle is mesothoracic ; usually of the 

 same size or not much larger than the abdominal ones; in Thanero- 

 clerus twice as large. The second thoracic spiracle is metathoracic ; 

 always rudimentary. 



The setae vary much in size, distribution, and number, according 

 to the different genera, species, and even, age stages; they are most 

 normally developed on all body parts in genera as Enoclerus and 

 Gymatodera; very long, soft, and numerous in Trichodes; short, fine, 

 and scarce in forms as Orthofleura and Neichnea. 



The color is varying; all known species belonging to the genera 

 Necrohia^ Enoclerus, Goderuclerus, Gymatodera, Trichodes, and 

 Th/Mieroclerus are vividly colored, red or blue, changing in the same 

 genus according to species or even according to the different larval 

 stages of the same species ; in Enoclerus thoracicus, Galeruclerus, and 

 Gymatodera the colored parts are speckled with white or light spots, 

 mainly corresponding to muscle attachments ; in NecroMa and Gyma- 

 todera are found on most of the segments a pair, or a transverse se- 

 ries of four orange dots, which probably indicate glands; genera 

 as Ghariessa or Phyllohaenus have a faint, bluish tinge on protuber- 

 ant structures as the ampullae or the epipleural lobes; genera as 

 Monophylla., OrtJwpleura, and Priocera are plain whitish; in the 

 genus Hydnocera, both spotted and unicolored whitish species occur. 



C. CLASSIFICATION OF THE LAKVAE OF NORTH AMERICAN CLERIDAE. 



Preceeding the discussion on the above given subject, it is thought 

 proper to formulate the following general principles, to which I 

 adhere. The classification of the Coleoptera, which is based entirely 

 on adult characters, should not be materially interfered with by 

 taxonomic studies on a single group of larvae. A new systematic 

 name should only in exceptional cases be applied to families, genera, 

 and species which are established exclusively on larval characters. 



