NO. II LARVAE OF THE ELATERID BEETLES GLEN ^"J 



THE LUDIUS PROPOLA GROUP 

 Figures 13, c; 17 

 KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Outer prongs of urogomphi (fig. 17, d, e) at least three times as long 



as inner prongs ; Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast 



pudicus Brown (p. 74) 



Outer prongs of urogomphi (fig. 17, a, f, g) not more than twice as 



long as inner prongs ; east of Rocky Moiuitain region 2 



2. Inner prongs of urogomphi {ipr, fig. 17, /, g) twice as long as width at 



base; larva may exceed 16 mm. in length; eastern North America. . . 



hieroglyphicus (Say) (p. 72) 



Inner prongs of urogomphi {ipr, fig. 17, a) less than twice as long as 

 wide ; larva not exceeding 16 mm. in length ; Atlantic coast to Rocky 

 Mountains propola propola (LeConte) (p. 68) 



Group characters are based on larvae of propola (LeConte), pudicus 

 Brown, and hieroglyphicus (Say). All are North American species 

 and believed to be forest inhabitants. 



These larvae bear superficial resemblance to those of the triundu- 

 latus group, but are readily separated by the following characters: 

 Outer urogomphal prong with sharp tip (fig. 17, c-g), antenna (fig. 

 17, b) with I "sensory" appendix, impressions shorter on abdominal 

 mediotergites, and sternum undivided in first 5 abdominal segments. 



Larvae of the propola group are bright yellow. Caudal notch large, 

 subovate, U-shaped or approaching V-shaped. Urogomphi bifid, with 

 outer prongs larger than inner prongs; tip of outer prongs sharp, 

 inclining forward. Ninth abdominal segment without setae on central 

 dorsal area; and with 3 prominent, blunt "teeth" on lateral margins 

 of dorsum. Nasale unidentate, with 2 to 6 setae on each side of base, 

 in sinuosities between nasale and paranasal lobes. Second joint of 

 antenna bearing i "sensory" appendix. Eyes present. Basal joint 

 of labial palpi with i small seta on ventral aspect. Gula short, but 

 relatively wide. Frontoclypeal area bluntly rounded posteriorly. Man- 

 dible much as aeripennis type, with short, moderately deep dorsal 

 groove. Presternum of prothorax divided into 3 sclerites. Episterna 

 of mesothorax and metathorax without spinelike setae. Mediotergites 

 of abdominal segments with prominent setae unpaired (at least not 

 definitely paired), and transverse branch of impressions not exceeding 

 four-fifths of the distance from longitudinal branch to middorsal 

 suture. Sternum of i piece on first to eighth abdominal segments. 



