Introduction 33 



DASCILLOIDEA 



Closely connected with Macrodactylia through the larval resem- 

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

 family DascillidiE 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 acquu'ed a higher degree of specialization than many 

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

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



BYRRHOIDEA 



Byi-rhidse and Dermestidse are here drawn together with Byturidse 

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

 Taken collectively, they seem to have preserv^ed more primitive characters 

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

 the more derivative Clavicornia. 



BOSTRICHOIDEA 



Leconte's family Ptinidse, divided into several sub-families by him 

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

 series, with Sphindidse and Cisidse added though the Sphindidse may also 

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

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

 be classified by the antennal characters. 



CLAVICORNIA or CUCUJOIDEA 



This series is copied from Ganglbauer, but with Byrrhoidea and 

 CoccineUidse removed. Some of my friends advocate including Byturus 

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

 geneous and requires more study. It seems to me to unite, ^\^thout a 

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

 yet succeeded in detecting then* characteristics. HandUrsch separates 

 the family Cucujidse as a separate series. 



