31 
GENERIC SYNOPSIS OF WIREWORMS. 
It is not surprising, in view of the slight differences which sep¬ 
arate some of the larger groups of Elateridae, that their larvae 
should fail to fall naturally into the same grouping; and it is 
probable that a fuller knowledge of larval characters will show 
that the natural relationships of several genera are different from 
those now accepted. The larvae of Elateridae do not all have 
the same habitus. Those of the Eucneminae so far as known 
resemble larvae of Buprestidae. Melanactes is also quite unlike a 
wireworm, and the Cebrionini, as represented by Cebrio, have 
pecularities which distinguish them from typical wireworms. 
Excluding these forms, the Illinois genera whose larval history 
is known may be grouped as follows: 
The genera related, to Alaus, and also some of the Elaterini, 
possess a pair of curved hooks, one each side of the anal pro¬ 
leg, called the scansorial hooks, which are absent in the other 
Elaterini; and the last segment usually bears two backward 
prolongations, or cerci. In Elater and related genera, also in 
Agriotes, the last segment is more or less rounded-conical and 
pointed, without cerci. In Melanotus it is flattened above and 
pointed. In the remaining Corymbitini, except Melanactes, the 
cerci are well developed. The following table can only be re¬ 
garded as provisional until a greater number of species are studied. 
Scansorial hooks present. 
Cerci present. 
Anal proleg denticulate each side. 
Muscular impressions* conspicuous on thorax and ab¬ 
domen, ovate on the latter. Chalcolepidius. 
Muscular impressions obsolete on thorax, narrow and 
curved on abdomen. Alaus. 
Anal proleg unarmed except with the scansorial hooks. 
Abdominal muscular impressions obovate, last segment- 
bearing minute setigerous tubercles above... A grypnus. 
Abdominal muscular impressions linear, last segment ru¬ 
gose above, without setigerous tubercles, apical notch 
acute. Drasterius. 
No cerci, larva long and moniliform. Cardiophorus. 
Scansorial hooks absent. 
No cerci. 
No black pits at base of last segment. 
Muscular impressions linear, indistinct, not striate, last 
segment conic, terminated by an acute point.. Dolopius. 
Muscular impressions distinct, sharply striate. 
* Small, striated areas, a pair to each segment, above the spiracles, near the anterior 
margin, usually oblong in shape, and each marked with equal, parallel ridges and grooves, 
extending in the direction of the long axis of the segment. 
