NO, II LARVAE OF THE ELATERID BEETLES GLEN IIQ 



This species is widely distributed in the eastern United States. 

 Leng (1920, p. 170 "divaricatiis (Lee.)" and "crassus (Lee.)") re- 

 cords specimens from Pennsylvania to Georgia and larvae have been 

 taken from as far west as Missouri. 



The larvae are soil inhabiting, having been found in bluegrass sod 

 and in clover fields. Blatchley (1910, p. 766) reports finding the 

 adults on the foliage of oak, which location suggests that the typical 

 habitat is woodland meadoWs, Judging from the date of emergence of 

 reared adults it would appear that pupation occurs normally in early 

 June, much earlier than with most species of Ludius. There are no 

 records of this species injuring cultivated crops. 



The larva has been described, with good figures, by Jewett (1939). 

 It is the only Ludius larva examined in which the sternum of the 

 ninth abdominal segment is of one sclerite. It is also the only Ludius 

 combining the characters of a large caudal notch and an undivided 

 presternum of prothorax. Other diagnostic features are found in 

 the urogomphi (ur, fig. 24, c, d), dorsum of the ninth abdominal 

 segment (fig. 24, d), nasale (w, fig. 24, a), mandible (fig. 24, h), 

 absence of eyes, absence of impressions on thoracic tergites, and the 

 long impressions on second to fifth abdominal segments. It appears to 

 be an isolated species. 



Description of a "niature" larva. — Length 17.0 mm. ; greatest 

 breadth 2.7 mm. on fourth abdominal segment ; sometimes metathorax 

 and first abdominal segment are widest. A fully distended larva mea- 

 sured 21.5 mm. Jewett (1939, p. 107) records average length as 

 21 mm. and width 3 mm. across thorax. Body robust ; with large 

 membranes on lateral aspect ; segments broader than long, eighth 

 abdominal segment sometimes as long as wide ; head and ninth abdomi- 

 nal segment about two-thirds greatest body width. Dorsum yellowish 

 brown or pale brown (near "raw sienna" or "buckthorn brown," 

 Ridgway, 1912) ; head and ninth abdominal segment slightly darker, 

 mandibles, nasale, talus, and prongs of urogomphi definitely darker ; 

 sclerotized parts of venter approximately of same color as dorsum. 

 Dorsum slightly rugose, with a few small shallow pits. 



Head short, subquadrangular with arcuate sides, flattened above and 

 below. 



Frontoclypeal region (fig. 24, a) relatively wide and short ; posterior 

 part extending backward to or almost to foramen magnum ; truncate 

 posteriorly. Two anterior nasosulcal setae {nsa) on each side of base 

 of nasale. Nasale (m) well developed, tridentate at tip ; median denti- 

 cle large; acutely pointed when uneroded; lateral denticles small, 



