110 sKuiucoRNiA. [QortynMtot, 



COHYMBITES, Latrcillc. 



This genus contains aboxit two hundred species, which are chiefly 

 confined, as is the case with several of our other genera of the Elateridae, 

 to Europe, Northern Asia, and North America; several, however, have 

 been described from the Cape of Good Hope and Natal, and a few from 

 Ceylon, Australia, and New Zealand, so that it is probable that the 

 genus will prove to be a very extensive one ; the genus is allied to 

 Campylus, but differs in having the eyes only moderately prominent, and 

 the margin of the front not reflexed ; the intermediate coxae are not 

 approximate, and the prosternal sutures are occasionally, but very 

 rarely, excavate in front; in some species the antennae in the male are 

 strongly pectinate or even flabellate, and some are conspicuous by 

 reason of their strong metallic colouring, in which they differ from the 

 great majority of the Elateridae. 



The larva of C. aneus is described and figured by Schiodte (Part v. p. 519, pi. 

 viii. fig. 8) ; it is pale ferruginous with the mandibles and frontal margin pitchy, 

 and the scuta marked with very fine longitudinal ferruginous lines ; the thoracic 

 segment is slightly narrowed in front, but the whole iusect is linear and parallel, and 

 does not call for any particular comment ; the larva of C. castaneus is also figured 

 by Schiodte on the same plate (fig. 10) ; in general shape it resembles that of C. 

 eeneus, but the abdominal segments have a large dark patch on each side, and the 

 ninth segment is more square, with the upper surface more deeply sculptured, and 

 more divergent cerci. 



There are forty-five species found in Europe, of which ten occur in 

 Britain ; these may be distinguished as follows : 



I. Antennas serrate from the third joint inclusive, often 



pectinate in the mnlo. 



i. Thorax villose, with posterior angles not carinate ; 

 antennae deeply pectinate in the male and serrate in 



the female C. CASTANEUS, L. 



ii. Thorax more or less distinctly pubescent, but not 

 villose, with posterior angles carinate. 



1. Antennae strongly pectinate in male and serrate 

 in female ; thorax strongly channelled longitu- 

 dinally. 



A. Processes of the joints of the antenna; in male 

 twice as long as the joints ; punctuation of thorax 



less close ; colour, as a rule, bronze-green . . C. PECriNicOBNis, L. 



B. Processes of the joints of the antennae in male not 

 much longer than the joints ; punctuation of tho- 

 rax very close ; elytra with basal portion more or 

 less broadly yellow, or upper surface entirely 



coppery reddish or violet, very seldom greenish . C. CTTPREUS, F. 



(v. teruginosus, Germ.) 



2. Antenna; obtusely serrate ; thorax very obsoletely 



channelled. 



A. Form larger and less parallel. sided ; punctua- 

 tion of thorax coarse and strong C. TESSELLATUS, F. 



11. Form smaller and more parallel-sided ; punc- 

 tuation of thorax very closp and fine . . . . C. QUEBCUS, Oyll. 



