NO. II LARVAE OF THE ELATERID BEETLES GLEN 35 



13. Outer prongs of urogomphi (opr, fig. 11, b, f) projected caudodorsad 



and usually slightly laterad, not curving anteriorly, tip blunt; ab- 

 dominal mediotergites usually with impressions extending to the 



mediodorsal suture in second to fifth segments 



Ludius resplendens aerarius (Randall) (p. 136) 



Outer prongs of urogomphi (opr, fig. 11, c) projected dorsad, curving 

 anteriorly, tip sharp; abdominal mediotergites with impressions 



definitely not reaching to mediodorsal suture 



Elathous bicolor (LeConte) (p. 167) 



14. Ninth abdominal segment (fig. 11, g) with well-rounded "teeth" (to) 



on sides of dorsum Limonius, pars (p. 157) 



Ninth abdominal segment (fig. 11, /;) with prominent pointed "teeth" 

 (to) on sides of dorsum Ludius, the limoniiformis group (p. 150) 



15. Dorsum very dark, usually dark reddish brown to brownish black; 



abdominal mediotergites punctulate, but without transverse rugae; 

 inner prongs of urogomphi (ipr, fig. 12, b) smooth, without pos- 

 terior tubercles Lepturoides (p. 168) 



Dorsum never dark, usually yellow to yellowish brown. Athous, pars (p. 170) 



16. Ninth abdominal segment (fig. 12, e) without a mediodorsal groove, 



with four setae on central dorsal area, and with very long outer 

 urogomphal prongs (opi-) ; without impressions on mediotergites 

 of mesothorax and metathorax. .Ludius divaricatus (LeConte) (p. 118) 

 Ninth abdominal segment (fig. 12, /) with a mediodorsal groove (mg), 

 and without setae on central dorsal area; with definite impressions 

 on mediotergites of mesothorax and metathorax 17 



17. Eyes absent; abdominal mediotergites (fig. 12, d) with prominent trans- 



verse rugae (crescent-shaped, shallow pits which are sometimes 

 confluent) ; urogomphal prongs (fig. 12, /) subequal, outer prongs 



pointed when uneroded 



Hemicrepidius, and Athous niger and its allies (p. 178) 



Eyes present; American species with prominent pits or rugae, Euro- 

 pean species sparsely punctulate ; outer urogomphal prongs either 

 with bluntly rounded tips (opr, fig. 12, a) or much longer than inner 

 prongs (fig. 12, c) Athous, pars (p. 170) 



Genus LUDIUS Eschscholtz 4 

 Figures 1-7; 8, d; 9, h, j ; 10, d; 11, b, e, f, h; 12, e; 13-29 

 For many years nomenclatorial confusion has involved the insects 

 now recognized under the generic name of Ludius Eschscholtz. Re- 

 ferring to this situation, Hyslop (1921, p. 621) states, "... the 

 genus Elater, as recognized by contemporary coleopterists, is in 

 reality the genus Ampedus, the insects now recognized under the 



4 Recent publications by Dietrich (i945. P- iQ) and Lane (1948, p. 182) 

 suggest that Ludius Eschscholtz should be placed in synonomy under Ctcnicera 

 Latreille. (Vide: Henry Dietrich, "The Elateridae of New York State," Mem. 

 269, Cornell Univ. Agr. Exper. Stat, Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 1945; M. C. Lane, 

 "Some Generic Corrections in the Elateridae I," Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 

 vol. 50, No. 7, pp. 179-182, Oct. 1948.) 



