The larvae are usually found in leaf mold on the forest floor. 
Adults are usually found in the vicinity of ash trees. 
At least four species of the genus Pelidnota MacLeay occur in 
eastern forests, one of which, P. punctata (L.), is fairly well 
known. The larvae are usually found in decayed hardwood stumps 
but sometimes in decaying roots and logs. The adult is about 20 
mm. long and reddish-brown above, with three black spots on 
each wing cover and one on each side of the prono’:m. The base 
of the head, the scutellum, and the entire underside of the body 
are deep bronzed green. The species is not injurious. 
The genus Polymoechus LeC. is represented in eastern forests 
by several species. The most common and widely distributed one 
is P. brevipes LeC. The larvae are found most commonly in de- 
cayed hardwood stumps, roots, and logs. Adults are blunt, convex, 
dark chestnut brown, and about 16 mm. long. The species is not 
considered to be injurious. 
The genus Osmoderma Serville is represented in eastern forests 
by at least four species, two of which, O. eremicola Knoch and O. 
scabra (Beauv.), are fairly common. The larvae feed in decayed 
cavities of dead or dying trees or logs. The adults are broadly oval 
and depressed dorsally and have heavy leathery elytra; O. eremi- 
cola is dark chestnut brown, smooth and shiny, whereas O. scabra 
is bronzy-purple black and rough in texture. They are approxi- 
mately 25 mm. long. When handled, they emit a strong leather- 
like odor. 
The genus Trichiotinus Casey contains several species, the 
adults of which are frequently seen around flowering trees and 
shrubs, wild cherry in particular. They are variegated, the body 
is densely pubescent; the elytra are almost as wide as long; the 
legs are long and slender; and they range in length from 9 to 15 
mm. The larval stage is spent in dead logs and stumps. 
FAMILY ELATERIDAE 
CLICK BEETLES 
Click beetles are so-called because of the presence of a spine on 
the prothorax which snaps into a groove on the mesosternum with 
an audible click. This mechanism enables an adult lying on its 
back to throw itself into the air and land on its feet. The larvae 
are known as wireworms because of their long, narrow, fusiform, 
tough-skinned bodies. Forest-inhabiting species are predomin- 
antly phytophagous, but a few are predaceous on other insects, 
such as wood borers. Vegetable feeding species usually confine 
their attacks to dead and often well-decayed wood and are of little 
economic importance. Dietrich (192) reported on the species 
occurring in New York State. ; 
The eyed click beetle, Alaus oculatus (L.), is a voracious feeder 
on various species of borers in hardwoods and the related species, 
A. myops (F.), on borers in pines. Adults of A. oculatus are 
grayish-black, with two large eyelike spots on the prothorax, and 
are 25 to 50 mm. long. Adults of A. myops are more slender and 
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