j6o 



COLEOPTERA 



CHAP. 



Schiodte. Leconte and Horn also adopt this view, except that 

 they treat Tiiroscides as a distinct family. By most authors 

 Eucneniides, Throscides, and Cebrionides are all considered dis- 

 tinct families, but at present it is almost impossible to separate 

 them on satisfactory lines. The following table from Leconte 

 and Horn exhibits the characters of the divisions so far as the 

 imago is concerned : — 



Posterior coxae laminate ; trochanters small. 



Labruni concealed ; antennae somewhat distant from the ej'es, their 



insertion narrowing the front . Edcnemides. 



Labrum visible, free ; antennae arising near the eyes under the frontal 



margin . . Elateeides. 



Labrum transverse, connate with the front. 



Ventral segments six ; claws simple ; tibial spurs v ell developed. 



Cebrioxides. 

 Ventral segments five ; claws serrate ; tibial spurs moderate. 



Perothopides. 



Posterior coxae not laminate ; trochanters of middle and posterior legs very 



long . . . . Cerophytides. 



Throscides are considered to be distinguished by the 

 mesosternum being impressed on each side 

 in front for the accommodation of the 

 posterior face of the front coxae. The 

 genus Throscus has the antennae clavate. 

 The classification of the Elaterides and 

 these forms is a matter of the greatest 

 difficulty, and, if the larvae are alsO' 

 considered, becomes even more complex. 

 Cebrionid larvae are different from 

 tliose of any of the other divisions, and 

 possess laminate, not calliper-like, man- 

 dibles. The larvae of Eucneniides (Fig. 

 135) are very little known, but are 

 highly remarkable, inasmuch as it is 

 very difficult to find any mouth-opening 

 in some of them, and they have no legs. 

 The other divisions possess very few species 

 compared with Elaterides. In Britain 

 we have about sixty species of Elate- 

 rides, four of Throscides and three of Eucneniides ; Cerojjhytum 

 was probably a native many years ago. Neither Perothopides 



Fig. 135. — Larva of Fornax 

 a. sp. Hawaii. A, Upper 

 side ; B, under side : 5 .s*, 

 position of spiracles ; C, 

 head more enlarged ; D, 

 under side of terminal seg- 

 ment ; a, anus. 



