CLASSIFICATION, SYNONYMY, AND COMMON NAMES. 13 



wireworms. The latter is considerably the smaller of the two, and 

 only an occasional individual has come under observation. The 

 other wireworms are white, with a slight yellow tinge. Two of them 

 belong to the genus Cardiophorus, one having been identified by Mr, 

 E. A. Schwarz, of this bureau, as Cardiophorus seneus Horn. The 

 other has not yet been reared, but as several adult specimens of 

 C. crinitus Blancli. have been taken in the fields, it is probable that 

 it belongs to this species. The other wireworm foimd in the fields 

 is a large, robust, whitish one, considerably larger than Limonius 

 californicus. This has not been reared and remains undetermined. 



In the spring, when the adults are found in the beet fields, four 

 other elaterids are found with them, though in lesser numbers. The 

 most common one resembles in general characteristics Limonius 

 californicus. It is of about the same size and outline, but differs 

 from L. californicus in the color of its elytra, which are a decided buff 

 instead of a deep brown. Dr. Chittenden has stated that this may 

 prove to be a new variety of californicus, since, while it resembles that 

 species quite closely, it seems to disagree in several small particulars. 

 From the numbers of these which were found with L. californicus it 

 is possible that they may be of economic importance. This species 

 may be called the lesser sugar-beet wireworm to distinguish it from 

 L. californicus. 



The other elaterids which were found occurred in very small num- 

 bers, so that they may be disregarded from an economic standpoint. 

 These have been determined as Drasterius livens, Cardiophorus seneus, 

 and C. crinitusi ?) . These three are considerably smaller than L. cali- 

 fornicus and there is therefore Uttle chance of their being mistaken 

 for the latter. 



Another beetle commonly noted in the fields is a carabid, Platynus 

 sp., sUghtly larger than L. californicus, robust, black in color, with a 

 shght metallic tinge. 



Two species of tenebrionids are also commonly found with LiTnoin- 

 ius californicus. Both are short, very robust, and dull black in color. 

 One is Blapstinus sp., the other a species of Coniontis. 



CLASSIFICATION, SYNONYMY, AND COMMON NAMES. 



Limonius californicus (PI. I; PI. 11, fig. a) belongs to the common 

 genus Limonius of the family Elateridse. It further belongs to the 

 tribe Elaterini and group Athoi. 



It was described from America in 1843 by Mannerheim as Cardio- 

 phorus californicus and has since been referred to the genus Limonius. 

 Cardiophorus californicus is its only known synonym. 



The larvae of this entire family of insects are commonly known as 

 A\dreworms. The adults, due to their habit of throwing themselves 

 into the air when placed on their backs, have received the names 

 "skipjacks," "cUck-beetles," "spring-beetles," and "blacksmiths." 



