342 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. XV, 



SUMMARY. 



The venation of the Coleoptera is based on the same funda- 

 mental plan as that of the Neuroptera and other Holometabola, 

 but with a rather large number of cross-veins. Costa is typical, 

 not always marginal; subcosta normal, concave, usually fusing 

 with radius; radius with Ri obsolescent, fusing with Sc, Rs 

 sharply divergent from Ri at origin, and usually obsolescent at 

 root, then broken by the principal fold of the wing, R2 and 3 

 represented by parallel more or less rudimentary veins toward 

 the costa, R^+s bending down sharply on the outer side of a 

 central cell where all the folds of the wing tend to converge, then 

 turning out, and when complete ending in one branch near 

 apex and one far below, near Mi. (Hydrophilidae, Histeridas), 

 usually reduced to a short stub (Adephaga, Scarabaeoidea) or 

 lost. Media oblique from R to Cu near root, then obsolete a 

 distance, then showing as a spur attached at its apex to Cu, in 

 the outer part of the wing with two divergent branches, repre- 

 senting Ml and M4; Cu simple, strong to fold, then usually 

 lost beyond or fused with M4; anals complexly anastomosing, 

 typically with 6 or 7 terminations, of which only one belongs 

 to 1st A. 



The Haliplidas are generalized among the Adephaga, the 

 Amphizoidae very close to the Dytiscidae. 



The Hydrophilidae contrast with all the other Polyphaga 

 in the preservation of both Mi and Cu, and often in a more or 

 less complete apical venation. Sphaeridium suggests the 

 Lamellicorns. 



The Silphidae are very near the Staphylinidae in venation; 

 the Necrophilus group less close. They form an isolated group 

 apparently not nearer the Polyphaga than Adephaga. 



The Histeridae have nothing to do with the Staphyliniformia, 

 but are Clavicorn or isolated. 



The Elateridae and Lampyridae are closely related, and the 

 venation suggests that the Lampyridae are degenerate from an 

 early elater type, not primitive. 



The Malachiidae, Coccinellidae and some other families seem 

 to make a separate group, which certainly has nothing to do 

 with the Lampyridae or Cleridae. 



The Rhipiceridae are Dascylloid, not Elateroid, as noted 

 by Gahan. 



