6 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. Ill 



as to be practically worthless. Diagnostic specific characters are 

 stressed, but only two species of Ludiiis are described. There is a key 

 to genera, including several subgenera of Ludhis, based largely upon 

 the findings of Schiodte. 



Beling, Th., 1883-1884: This author discusses 55 European 

 species, 1 1 belonging to the genus Ludius, and a key to species is in- 

 cluded. Larval and pupal descriptions are combined with excellent 

 notes on habitat and on the occurrence and duration of the pupal 

 period. On the whole, the descriptions are good and somewhat more 

 detailed than those of Schiodte, but unfortunately no illustrations 

 are given. 



CoMSTOCK, J. H., and Slingerland, M, V., 1891 : This bulletin 

 includes illustrated descriptions of the larvae of five pest species be- 

 longing to five distinct genera, along with important notes on their 

 life history. Although it is a pioneer American work the descrip- 

 tions and figures are done with surprising detail, but many of the 

 figures are smaller than desirable. It has served as a useful model 

 in the progress of this work in America. The descriptions of the 

 two lepturoidine larvae that are included — Hemicrepidius hemipodits 

 (Say) {=Asaphes decoloi-atus Say) and Cryptohypnus abhreviatus 

 (Say) — are as good as any descriptions yet made of these species, 

 although certain important details are omitted. 



Forbes, S. A., 1892 : Nine pest species are included in this early 

 American work, but the larvae of only six species are described and 

 illustrated. No Ludius larvae are included. Only two of the descrip- 

 tions are original, the others being taken verbatim from Comstock 

 and Slingerland (1891). Both the descriptions and the figures are 

 useful, although pertinent details are lacking. Of prime significance 

 is the key to genera, which was the only key to elaterid larvae in the 

 American literature until the recent publications of Van Zwalu wen- 

 burg (1939) and Glen, King, and Arnason (1943). Ten genera 

 occurring in Illinois are separated, but the lepturoidine genera — 

 Athous, Ludius { — Corymbites), Hemicrepidius (=Asaphes), and 

 Cryptohypnus — are not distinguished. Important observations on 

 bionomics are included. 



Henriksen, K. L., 191 1 : Henriksen extended the work of his 

 fellow countryman J. C. Schiodte. Although his studies are limited to 

 the Danish Elateridae, he describes and illustrates 42 species. His 

 conclusions are presented in several keys. His key to 18 genera 

 separates, for the first time, Ludius {= Corymbites), Lepturoides 

 { = Campylus), and Athous. Although the characters used do not 

 hold for the larvae of these genera, as recognized throughout the 



