10. 
i, 
13. 
14. 
7 
18. 
MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF MORE IMPORTANT BEETLE LARVAE 
Legs apparently 6-jointed, the fifth bearing 1 or 2 distinct movable 
Clawss ote. 4 tee Cae Steg ie ta noe — oe ee ee ee 
Legs either 5-jointed with tarsus and claw fused into a single claw- 
shaped terminal joint, or less than 5-jointed or absent___________ 
Hypopharynx and ligula strongly chitinized; soft-bodied wood- 
boring’ forms § ot PSs. Sw Pe ee ae Se ee eee 
Hypopharynx soft; ligula soft or vestigial; mandibles falciform, 
fitted. for grasping ==. Se eee Le ee eee 
Ninth abdominal segment armed with 1 or 2 chitinous processes; 
mandibles with large grinding molar structure________________ 
Ninth abdominal segment unarmed; mandibles of grasping type__-_ 
Rhysodidae 
Ninth abdominal segment dorsally produced into a straight 
DEOCESS = 2. Sat So Se se ee ee Cupesidae 
Ninth abdominal segment bearing a dorsal and ventral process, 
curved toward each ofhers=] === = eee Micromalthidae 
Body fusiform usually developed for active motion, no abdominal 
HOOKS. 22 32 (ee. oe ee eee Carabidae 
Body fleshy digitate; dorsal surface of fifth abdominal segment 
bearing 2 or 3 pairs of hooks; larvae living in earthen burrows in 
the (Soili sees iss Be 2 a ete ee Sey ann eee meee Cicindelidae 
Ninth abdominal segment bearing 1- or 2-jointed, movable ap- 
PEMAALES: OL CONG oe pe as a 
Cerev rier’ Or Warring ee ee pe 
Mandibles of the grasping type without a grinding or molar structure 
at base; gula reduced or represented by a line, the sides of the 
head: meeting ventrally s 22.2 2. ee ee eee 
Mandibles of the biting type; gula present__-__________-_ Silphidae 
Spiracles bifore; cardo and stipites fused______________ Histeridae 
Spiracles annular; stipites articulate on cardo_______ Staphylinidae 
Curved, grublike larvae with strong well-developed legs; mandible 
with a large grinding structure; lacinia and galea usually dis- 
tinetly divided; spiracles usually cribriform; no cerci__________ 
Form variable and not having the above combination of characters _ 
Gula present separating submentum from prothoracic skin; lacinia 
DJ OUTS A so Seo ce = ee area re re By rrhidae 
Gula absent; submentum and prothorax continues in a soft skinlike 
connection _____ oe. 2). 322 amellicornra 
Gular region or a median cular suture present 226 ee ee 
Gular region fleshy, , submentum and presternum of prothorax 
continuous in a deninke Connection ===5_ 2-2) eee eee 
Parasitic; soft-bodied, swollen larvae with head and body white; 
mandible without molar structures. 22 = se ae ee eee 
Not parasitic; head and body normally chitinized_______________ 
IMLOimGH: PATS TP ROG: CEG sas ase ee ee Catogenidae 
Mio mth parts Metra Cte cate sess eae ea Oe er Bothrideridae 
Labrum absent or fused with clypeus into a nasale______________ 
Labrum. ‘distinets 23-2 232 2 ee ee re 
Head structures reduced and specialized; body usually much de- 
pressed; wood borers, the larvae cutting galleries across the grain 
of the woods 282 ons he ee oe ee eee 
Headistructures NOt SO mode ches ee ae Elateridae 
Legs-short; jointed = = = a2 ee oe ee Throscidae 
Legstabsent or vestioial 5225s eae en ee ee Melasidae 
Maxillary articulating area indistinct: s= ses a. eee eee 
Maxillary articulating area large and distinct__________________- 
Ninth abdominal segment operculate, terminal; body cylindrical, 
heavily ehitinized =" 25 22-22 Se ee Rhipiceridae 
Body otherwise 2)3 2 oS 3 2 ee ee ee ee 
Prothorax enlarged and flattened, marked with a distinct circular or 
oval area above and below; legs vestigial or wanting__ Buprestidae 
Prothorax not specialized; legs well developed____________-___-- 
Body fleshy; curved, inactive larvae feeding in fungi_____ ~~ Ciidae 
Body digitate or active; predaceous forms or scavengers. ~~ -~-_---- 
H Or WO DD WwW 
Ont 
16 
18 
24 
19 
20 
21 
ee 
