NO. II LARVAE OF THE ELATERID BEETLES GLEN 65 



meters. The larva is stated to be carnivorous, especially on ants, and 

 frequents the nests of Formica coespitum Linnaeus. Xambeu states 

 that, in contrast to all other species of Ludius, amplicollis completes 

 its life cycle in i year, the eggs hatching at the end of summer, 

 the larvae that emerge pupating the following May. 



Xambeu's description is inadequate both for the accurate identifi- 

 cation of the species and for determining its relationships. Specimens 

 were not available for examination in the present study. 



The following is a summary of the most important larval characters 

 given by Xambeu: Length i6 to i8 mm.; breadth 2 to 3 mm. 

 Young larvae yellowish; older specimens reddish, venter yellowish. 

 Nasale dark and tridentate. Eyes present. Prothorax finely punc- 

 tured. First 8 abdominal segments punctate, each bearing a pos- 

 terior transverse row of 6 or 7 reddish setae. Spiracles in anterior 

 half of each segment. Ninth abdominal segment long, narrow, 

 strongly punctate. Caudal notch large. Urogomphi bifid, outer prong 

 long and arched. Anal opening linear. 



THE LUDIUS SEMIVITTATUS GROUP 

 Figure 16, b, e 



The material at hand is entirely inadequate for the establishment 

 of group characters, only a single specimen labeled "Ludius fusculus 

 Lee. (or semivittatus Say)" being available. 



Brown (1936a, pp. 11-17) has shown that the adults of semivittatus 

 (Say) and its allies have been much confused in collections. He 

 erected the species deceptor Brown and funereus Brown for specimens 

 that he believed Dr. Van Dyke and others had misidentified as fusculus 

 (LeConte), the latter being excluded from the semivittatus group. In 

 addition, blanditus Brown and sexguttatus Brown were created for 

 species commonly confused with semivittatus (Say). Thus, it is im- 

 possible to state which species, as recognized by Brown, is repre- 

 sented by a specimen labeled "Ludius fusculus Lee. (or semivittatus 

 Say)," but in all probability it is one of the western species included 

 by Brown in his semivittatus group. 



This larva reveals a close relationship to the edwardsi group. As 

 with the edwardsi larvae, the most striking feature is the horny uro- 

 gomphal prongs (fig. 16, e) shaped as grappling hooks. The two 

 groups may be separated as follows : In semivittatus, the pleurites 



