Introduction 33 



DASCILLOIDEA 



Closely connected with Macrodactylia through the larval resem- 

 blance of Psephenus and Placonycha, the component parts of Leconte's 

 family Dascillidse seem to indicate several modified survivals of an ancient 

 group, from which possibly the Phytophaga may have also originated. 

 Their aquatic habits seem Uke an inheritance from primitive ancestors, 

 but they have acquired a higher degree of speciaUzation than many 

 other of Leconte's Serricoms. Some of the genera now included in Dascil- 

 lidse may have to be removed therefrom when the larvae are better known. 



BYRRHOIDEA 



Byrrhidse and Dermestidae are here drawn together with Byturidae 

 as an offshoot, apparently by its lobed tarsi of most primitive character. 

 Taken collectively, they seem to have preserved more primitive characters 

 than most of Leconte's clavicom series and should therefore precede 

 the more derivative Clavicornia. 



BOSTRICHOIDEA 



Leconte's family Ptinidae, divided into several sub-famihes by him 

 that have since been raised to families, constitutes the bulk of this 

 series, with Splnndidae and Cisidae added though the Sphindidae may also 

 be related to the next series. The antennae in the primitive forms are 

 filiform, but rapidly become clavate; this series, like the last, refuses to 

 be classified bv the antennal characters. 



CLAVICORNIA or CUCUJOIDEA 



This series is copied from Ganglbauer, but with Bjo-rhoidea and 

 CoccineUidae removed. Some of my friends advocate including Byturus 

 on account of its close relation to Mycetophagidae. It is still very hetero- 

 geneous and requires more study. It seems to me to unite, mthout a 

 sufficient bond, the remnants of several ancient groups; but no one has 

 yet succeeded in detecting their characteristics. Handlirsch separates 

 the family Cucujidae as a separate series. 



