INSECT ENEMIES OF EASTERN FORESTS 215 
Famiry ALLECULIDAE (=CISTELIDAE) 
The Comb-Clawed Beetles 
The comb-clawed beetles are moderate sized, usually less than 10 mm. 
in length, glossy, elongate, convex, brown or black beetles, which can 
be distinguished from the Tenebrionidae by the pectinate tarsal claws. 
The adults are found on twigs, leaves, and flowers. There is no 
simple outstanding morphological character by which the larvae can 
be separated from the Tenebrionidae. Superficially, they are char- 
acterized by their uniformly cylindrical bodies and by the peculiar 
wriggling motion of the living specimens. The terminal segment 
posteriorly is usually smooth, bluntly (rarely sharply) rounded, and 
without armature or asperities. | 
The larvae feed more or less gregariously in a common cavity in 
dead or decaying wood, especially in stumps and logs on the ground, 
and more rarely in dead areas of living trees. Some larvae are taken 
in soil about the roots of plants and others are associated with the 
debris in nests of ants, termites, and birds, and in the feces of bats. 
The larval mines are filled with a characteristic, fine pelletlike frass. 
No forms are of economic importance, but a key is given by which the 
more common forms may be recognized. 
KEY TO LARVAE OF SOME COMMON WOOD- AND FUNGUS-INFESTING 
ALLECULIDAE 
1k Clypeus and labrum unarmed, median transverse portion of latter 
Raya TRIN Oe As Ue eer edi peay se Bo ike Fe eae Nae 2 
Clypeus armed with seta-bearing tubercles; number of setae 
WetTel ello) Creamer ce seen teat gly se re ee Pe ek Sea Ae 6 
2. Back of mandible near articulating fossa bearing 2 long, backward- 
curved setae (from 2 to 3 times length of anterior one) _/somera 
Back of mandible near fossa bearing 2 short straight setae (about 
lene heoManteniorsOne) = sien Be ee a 3 
3: Terminal segment well-rounded posteriorly____.._._.-....______-_ 4 
Terminal segment somewhat sharp posteriorly_____._.__._._______- 5 
4, Terminal segment subcylindrical in shape, obtusely rounded 
Hymenorus 
Terminal segment subconical in shape, more acutely rounded 
Mycetochara 
5. Terminal segment drawn out into a sharp point; second antennal 
article decidedly longer (1% times) than first_____-_ Hymenorus 
Terminal segment not drawn out into a sharp point; second anten- 
naledrticle nearly as; short as: first. = 52-2222 2 22.2 Lobopoda 
6. Clypeus bituberculate and with 4 setae; back of mandible near 
articulating fossa with 3 long curved backward directed 
SSS TEEY Sie ES Se ig EO ee Pseudocistela 
Clypeus quadrituberculate and with 8 to 10 setae; back of mandible 
Wwitheonhy=2 long-curved setae: —____=---=_ 22. -22-- Capnochroa 
Of the more common forms, Zymenorus larvae infest decaying soft- 
woods, such as pine and cedar and hardwoods as oak, chestnut, willow, 
redbud, and beech. They have also occurred in dead knots in living 
tulip poplar, and apple trees. On one occasion they were found asso- 
ciated with a termite nest. Larvae of H. punctulatus Lec., H. pilosus 
(Melsh.), and H. diseretus Csy. have been found associated with ants. 
Larvae of Mycetochara fraterna (Say) infest decaying oak logs and 
rotting heartwood in living trees. Larvae of Capnochroa fuliginosa 
(Melsh.), in addition to excavating in such hardwood logs as chestnut 
