6 Introduction 



Byrrhoidea includes only the family Byrrhida?. Two series, 

 Dascilloidea and Cleroidea, are descended directly from the 

 Byrrhoidea; Dryopoidea can be derived through the Ptilodactylidie ; 

 Elateroidea, through the Eurypogonida^ ; Cantharoidea and Scara- 

 bfeoidea from other daseilloid or dryopoid families. 



With the Cleroidea may be associated Mordelloidea, Bostricho- 

 idea, and the so-called phytophagous assemblage. The series 

 Meloidea may also belong here but Dr. Bbving adds that there are 

 some reasons for considering the possibility that it might be related 

 to the Cantharoidea. 



The composition of the series thus hypothetically derived from 

 Byrrhoidea differs in some cases from that heretofore assumed and 

 will be discussed below. 



Dascilloidea. The EucinetidfP are removed to Cucujoidea, other 

 families to Dryopoidea, as stated below. The Nosodendridfe and 

 Heteroceridfe are added, making four families, viz: Dascillidse, 

 Heterocerida?, Helodidae, Nosodendridaj. 



Dryopoidea. This series includes new families Ptilodactylidse and 

 Eurypogonidaj, taken from Dascilloidea; Psephenidse, divided into 

 subfamilies Psephenina? and Eubrianacinfe of which the latter is 

 taken from Dascilloidea; Chelonariida? ; Dryopida^, divided into sub- 

 families LariniB, Pelonominaj and Helminfe. 



In the rearrangement of the families of Byrrhoidea, Dascilloidea, 

 and Dryopoidea, discussed in detail by Dr. Boving in his paper of 

 1929 in the Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Societ\% the 

 value of larval characters in determining relationships is strikingly 

 exhibited. 



Cantharoidea. The Melyrida;, Cleridte, and Corynetidse are re- 

 moved to a new series Cleroidea. The family Braehypsectridse, 

 following Blair, is considered valid on larval characters, but is 

 included here, rather than in Dascillidje. The Cantharidse are di^dded 

 into subfamilies Malthinse, Chauliognathinse, Malthodinfe, and 

 Cantharina?. 



Elateroidea. The differences here from existing classification are 

 slighter than in some preceding series. Plastoceridae are included in 

 Cebrionidiv, and Drapetes is removed from Throscidje to the sub- 

 family Oestodinfe of Elateridse. Sandalidse is treated as a family, 

 quite distinct on larval characters from Rhipiceridse. 



Scarabaeoidea. This superfamily is unchanged, but the larval 

 characters accentuate its subdivisions into families and subfamilies. 



Cleroidea. The families included in this new superfamily are 

 Dermestidae, Melyridae, Ciida;, Ostomatidse, Cleridae, Catogenidae (?), 

 and Bothrideridffi (?). The relationship of the last two is regarded as 

 problematical. As to some of the other families, the larval char- 

 acters suggest the need of many subfamilies. 



