AMERICAN SPECIES OF LUDIUS; THE CRUCIATUS AND EDWARDSI GROUPS (COLEOP.)

Abstract

A recent critical study of a number of species of Ludius Esch. has shown that considerable confusion exists in collections of the group, due largely to lack of adequate descriptions of the various species and to the artificial nature of the classification now in use. The genus Ludius, as now recognized in the American literature, is not a true genus in any natural sense, but is, rather, a heterogeneous group of species the natural affinities of which are not known. For purposes of classification, the species have been grouped primarily by characters of the antennae.