694. 

 ELATER ATERRIMUS. 



Order Coleoptera. Fam. Elateridae. 



Type of the Genus, Elater cupreus Fab. 

 Elater Linn., Fab., GylL, Curt. — Ludius Lat. 



Antennae inserted before the eyes, on each side of the clypeus, 

 longer than the head and thorax, 11 -jointed, basal joint short 

 stoutish and ovate, 2nd and sometimes the 3rd minute and oval, 

 the remainder compressed oblong, serrated or pectinated in- 

 ternally in the male (6). 



Labrum transverse-semiovate, the margins ciliated with long 

 bristles, the apex trigonate, fleshy and pubescent (1). 

 Mandibles broad at the base, very much curved, the apex broad 

 and bifid, the internal margin membranous and ciliated below 

 the middle (2). 



Maxilla terminating in 2 very pilose lobes. Palpi short, stout, 

 clavate and 4-jointed, basal joint small, subglobose, 2nd elon- 

 gate, pear-shaped, truncated obliquely, 3rd shorter, obovate, 

 4th the longest, hatchet-shaped (3). 



Mentum transverse, narrowed anteriorly with a few long bristles 

 at the angles. Lip rather long and trigonate. Palpi inserted 

 near the sides towards the apex, short and triarticulate, 2 basal 

 joints small, obovate, 3rd large and hatchet-shaped (4). 

 Head subovate : eyes sinall lateral and orbicular. Thorax consider- 

 ably broader than the head, elongate-ovate, truncated before and at 

 the base, which is broadest and sinuated, the angles produced into 

 spines; the sternum wzYA a spine beneath (T*), which rests in a 

 cavity betiveen the intermediate coxa : scutel distinct and ovate. 

 Elytra a little broader than the thorax, very long, the apex more or 

 less conical, sometimes notched. Wings ample. Legs moderate and 

 slender : thighs short : tibiae simple : tarsi slender, sometimes lobed, 

 5-jointed, basal joint not longer than the terminal one : c\a,ws long 

 and slender (5, afore leg). 



Aterrimus Linn. F. S. No. 726. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 309. 23. 



Opake charcoal-black, clothed with minute depressed black 

 hairs : clypeus trigonate and extending a little over the labrum; 

 the trophi nearly concealed : antennae not longer than the thorax, 

 punctured, serrated, 2nd and 3rd joints minute : head and thorax 

 thickly punctured and finely shagreened, the latter oval, with 

 the hinder angles a little divaricating, acute with sharp edges, 

 a short channel near the base : scutel and elytra thickly punc- 

 tured, the latter slightly glossy, somewhat bluish-black, the 

 striae clean and punctured ; apex emarginate, forming 2 small 

 points : legs very slender, knees a little ferruginous ; claws 

 .ochreous : underside minutely punctured. 

 In the Author's Cabinet. 



The larvae of these insects live in decayed trees, under the 

 bark and in the earth, they have horny skins, and one of them, 



