352 



Leech and Chandler: Coleoptera 



Fig. 13:47. Helodidae. a, Prionocyphon discoideus, larva; b, Elodes hausmanni, apex of larval 

 abdomen to show retractile gills; c, Scirtes tibialis, underside of a Lemna leaf showing attached 

 pupa and last larval skin; d, Elodes hausmanni, hypopharynx of fourth instar larva; e, Scirfes 

 tibialis, adult; f, Prionocyphon serricornis, adult (European sp.); g, Elodes hausmanni, mandible 

 of fifth instar larva; h, labial palpi of an adult helodid (a, Boving and Craighead, 1931; b,d,g, 

 Beier, 1949; c,e, Kraatz, 1918; f,h, Portevin, 1931). 



coideus (Say) in the damp decaying wood of an oak 

 stump, the lower part of which contained water and 

 numerous larvae of the same species. The pupa of 

 P. limbatus Le Conte is remarkable for the four huge 

 spines on the pronotum (fig. 13:486). There appears 

 to be but one generation a year, and some, if not most, 

 species overwinter as larvae. 



Habitat and distribution. — Adults of species of Ora, 

 Scirtes, Cyphon, Microcara, and Sarabandus are usu- 

 ally found on vegetation near the water or in damp 

 places in which the larvae occur. Those of Priono- 

 cyphon hide under dead leaves or crawl on dead 

 fallen branches in more forested areas. Adults of 

 Elodes fly along streams or around springs, or hide 



