A faunal survey of the elateroidea of Montana by Catherine Elaine Seibert A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Entomology Montana State University © Copyright by Catherine Elaine Seibert (1993) Abstract: The beetle family Elateridae is a large and taxonomically difficult group of insects that includes many economically important species of cultivated crops. Elaterid larvae, or wireworms, have a history of damaging small grains in Montana. Although chemical seed treatments have controlled wireworm damage since the early 1950's, it is- highly probable that their availability will become limited, if not completely unavailable, in the near future. In that event, information about Montana's elaterid fauna, particularity which species are present and where, will be necessary for renewed research efforts directed at wireworm management. A faunal survey of the superfamily Elateroidea, including the Elateridae and three closely related families, was undertaken to determine the species composition and distribution in Montana. Because elateroid larvae are difficult to collect and identify, the survey concentrated exclusively on adult beetles. This effort involved both the collection of Montana elateroids from the field and extensive borrowing of the same from museum sources. Results from the survey identified one artematopid, 152 elaterid, six throscid, and seven eucnemid species from Montana. County distributions for each species were mapped. In addition, dichotomous keys, and taxonomic and biological information, were compiled for various taxa. Species of potential economic importance were also noted, along with their host plants. Although the knowledge of the superfamily' has been improved significantly, it is not complete. It is concluded that the Elateroidea of Montana includes at least 166 species. A FAUNAL SURVEY OF THE ELATEROIDEA OF MONTANA by Catherine Elaine Seibert A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree , of Master of Science in Entomology MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana July 1993 © COPYRIGHT by Catherine Elaine Seibert 1993 All rights reserved Tl SJd Sa-4at* ii APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Catherine Elaine Seibert This thesis has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format, citations, bibliographic style, and consistency, and is ready for submission to the College of Graduate Studies. Date Chairperson, Graduate Committee Approved for the Entomology Research Laboratory --- Date b logy Approved for the College of Graduate Studies Date Graduate Dean iii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it available to borrowers under the rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of the source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this thesis in whole or in parts may be granted by the copyright holder, or if she is unavailable, by Dr. Robert M. Nowierski. All material derived from this document must, as a condition of its use, cite its origin. Signature Date iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank Professors Robert Nowierski, William Kemp, Matthew Lavin, and Michael Ivie for their interest and support regarding this project. I am very grateful to Dr. Edward C . Becker, Paul Johnson, and Samuel Wells for identi­ fication work. Additionally, I would like to thank Professors Daniel Gustafson and J. Gordon Edwards for providing this project with a rich assortment of Montana elateroid specimens. I would also like to thank the following Montana landowners who so graciously allowed me to collect elateroid material from their properties; Clark and Gail Brevig near Lewistown, Jewelr Harper at Two Dot, Allan Underdal near Shelby, and Harold and Etoile Ziolkowski at Lewistown. I extend my appreciation to the following individuals who so kindly helped me attend to my traps during the 1988 field season; Carol Engle at Philipsburg, Bruce Evans at Shelby, Greg Kushnak at Conrad, and John McCarthy at Augusta. Lastly, I would like to thank my husband, Harold Ziolkowski, Jr., for his continual support throughout this project, in addition to his help in the field and expert technical assistance mapping Montana elateroid species. This research was funded in part by MONB grant 101156 of the Montana Agriculture Experiment Station. V TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES.........•.................................. .. .Vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.......................................xvii ABSTRACT........................................ xviii INTRODUCTION.............. I MATERIALS AND METHODS............................. ■........... 5 Montana Elateroidea Material............................. 5 Trap Collection of Montana Elateroidea.................. 6 Elateroidea Identification and Data Analysis............ 8 SUPERFAMILY ELATEROIDEA......................................10 Introduction....... ,....................................10 Taxonomic Characters....... 11 Key to Families of Adult Elateroidea.................. .15 FAMILY ARTEMATOPIDAE................. .18 Introduction............................................ 18 Subfamily Macropogoninae.............................. .19 FAMILY ELATERIDAE........................................... 2 0 Introduction.................................. 20 Key to Subfamilies of Adult Elateridae................. 24 Subfamily Pyrophorinae................................ 2 6 Tribe Agrypnini................................... 29 Tribe Chalcolepidiini................... 30 Tribe Conoderini.................................. 31 Subfamily Hypnoidinae. .................................. 36 Subfamily Denticollinae ...................... 60 Tribe Denticollini............................. '..62 Tribe ,Ctenicerini........ 76 Subfamily Elaterinae.................................. 100 Tribe Ampedini................................... 103 Tribe Megapenthini............................... 14 6 Tribe Physorhinini............................... 150 Tribe Adrastini.................................. 152 Tribe Agriotini................ .'................ 154 Tribe Elaterini............................... ,...185 'vi ' TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued • Page FAMILY ELATERIDAE - Continued Subfamily Melanotinae................. 188 ■Subfamily Negastriinae................................ 200 Subfamily Cardiophorinae............. ................ 2 08 ; I FAMILY THROSCIDAE............................................217 "I Introduction........................................... 217 Key to Species of Adult Throscidae....................218 FAMILY EUCNEMIDAE.... ...................................... 223 Introduction...................................... .223 Key to Species of Adult Eucnemidae....................224 Subfamily Eucneminae...... ............... ....... 22 6 ! Subfamily Melasinae...... 226 ; SUMMARY.................................................. ,...230 REFERENCES CITED............................................ 235 APPENDICES...... 257 Appendix A - Montana Elateroidea Classification.... 258 Appendix B - Montana Elateroidea Species List....... 260 . Appendix • C - Montana County Ma p ............I...... 265 Appendix D - Map of Trap Site Locations and Type....267 . Appendix E - List of 1988 Trap Site Locations, Dates, and Kinds of Traps..................... 26? Appendix F - Montana'Elateroidea Species County Distribution Maps..................... 274 Appendix G - Elateroidea Species Collected at 1988 Trap Sites........................... .289 Appendix H - Montana Elateridae of Potential Economic Importance........... 294 i Appendix I - Elateroid Species Collected Exclusively by One Trapping Technique................297 ^ ■ Appendix ,J - Composite Elateroid Species List Repre­ senting 1988 Trapping Efforts..........299 ! Appendix K - Glossary of Terms.... ................ ,.3 02 Appendix L - Index to Taxa'........................ , .314 r LIST OF •FIGURES Figure Page 1. Lateral habitus of Ampedus apicatus.................... 12 2. Head, cephalic view, of Megapenthes angularis......... 12 3. Dorsal habitus of Glyphonyx sp .............. .14 4. Ventral habitus of Agriotes sp ..........................14 5. Head and thorax, lateral view, of Macropogon piceus... 17 6. Prothorax, ventral view, of throscid sp................ 17 7. Left antenna of Trixagus carinicollis.................. 17 8. Head, cephalic view, of Hylis terminalis............... 17 9. Head, cephalic view, of Megapenthes' angularis..........17 Mesosternum, lateral view: 10. Orthostethus unifuscatus...... 25 11. Oedostethus femoralis........... ....;............25 a 12. Melanotus similis................... 25 13. Head, dorsolateral view, of denticolline s p ............25 14. Head, dorsolateral view, of elaterine sp............... 25 Head and prothorax, dorsal view: 15 . Danosoma brevicornis.............................. 25 16. Lacon rorulenta............. '..................... 25 17. Hypnoidus abbreviatus............................. 42 18. Hypnoidus impressicollis..........................42 19. Margaidstus glacialis............................. 42 20. Hypnoidus rivularius-.............................. 42 viii Figure _ - Page 21. Hypnoidus bicolor.......................... .42 22. Tarsal claws of Glyphonyx