Click Beetles of the Southeastern United States

A ten-year survey of the Elateridae of the southeastern United States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) is presented, resulting in 286 species. Keys to genera and species are provided. For each species, the following information is given: diagnostic morphologic features, geographic distribution, county and temporal data for specimens examined in the study, and notes on biology and collection methods. Twenty-four species of Elateridae previously recorded in the literature from the Southeast are excluded from the current study, but are briefly discussed as questionable, doubtful, or demonstrably erroneous records or whose taxonomic status is not known. Two-hundred forty-nine new state records are established for 143 species. Twenty-eight species are recorded from the study area for the first time. New country records are established for Anchastus rufiventris (Florida) and Pyrophorus mellifluus (Alabama).

The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Acteniceromorphus atlas (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Acteniceromorphus crestonensis (Brown, 1935), new combination; Acteniceromorphus dolorosus (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Acteniceromorphus kaweanus (Fall, 1937), new combination; Acteniceromorphus sagitticollis (Eschscholtz, 1829), new combination; Acteniceromorphus sierrae (Van Dyke, 1943), new combination; Acteniceromorphus tahoensis (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Acteniceromorphus truculentus (Candèze, 1889), new combination; Acteniceromorphus varius (Brown), new combination; Acteniceromorphus vulneratus (LeConte, 1863), new combination; Aeolus lepidus (LeConte, 1853), new combination; Brownia Johnson, new genus; Brownia coniungens (LeConte, 1853), new combination; Brownia copei (Horn, 1871), new combination; Brownia lecontei (Candèze, 1881), new combination; Brownia obversa (Horn, 1871), new combination; Brownia praeses (Horn, 1871), new combination; Brownia rupestris (Germar, 1843), new combination; Brownia signaticollis (Melsheimer, 1846), new combination; Dixicollis Johnson, new genus; Dixicollis divaricatus (LeConte, 1853), new combination; Laneganus Johnson, new genus; Laneganus nunenmacheri (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Laneganus sulcicollis (Say, 1839), new combination; Proludius angusticollis (Mannerheim, 1843), new combination; Proludius anthrax (LeConte, 1861), new combination; Proludius aplastoides (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Proludius capitiosus (Brown, 1939), new combination; Proludius comes (Brown, 1939), new combination; Proludius gibsoni (Lane, 1965), new combination; Proludius humboldti (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Proludius pyrros (Herbst, 1806), new combination; Proludius protractus (LeConte, 1859), new combination; Proludius silvaticus (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Proludius tenellus (Van Dyke, 1932), new combination; Stropenron Johnson, new genus; Stropenron californica (Brown, 1936), new combination; Stropenron candida (Brown, 1936), new combination; Stropenron columbiana (Brown, 1936), new combination; Stropenron hamata (Say, 1839), new combination; Stropenron hieroglyphica (Say, 1839), new combination; Stropenron nigricollis (Bland, 1864), new combination; Stropenron pallidipes (Brown, 1936), new combination; Stropenron propola (LeConte, 1853), new combination; Stropenron pudica (Brown, 1936), new combination; Tesolasomus Johnson, new genus; Tesolasomus blanditus (Brown, 1936), new combination; Tesolasomus deceptor (Brown, 1936), new combination; Tesolasomus funereus (Brown, 1936), new combination; Tesolasomus lanei (Becker, 1949), new combination; Tesolasomus morulus (LeConte, 1863), new combination; Tesolasomus semivittatus (Say, 1823), new combination; Tesolasomus sexguttatus (Brown, 1936), new combination; Tesolasomus sexualis (Brown, 1935), new combination; Tesolasomus trivittatus (LeConte, 1853), new combination; Vittathous Johnson, new genus; Vittathous horni (Schwarz, 1907), new combination; Vittathous linearis (Fall, 1910), new combination; Vittathous macer (Fall, 1910), new combination; Vittathous manisi (Lane, 1965), new combination. Synonymies made here include: Conoderus perversus Brown, 1933 is a new synonym of Aeolus scutellatus (Schaeffer, 1917), Drasterius curtipennis Schwarz, 1906 is a new synonym of Aeolus mellillus (Say, 1834), Ludius patricius Van Dyke, 1932 is a new synonym of Vittathous linearis (Fall, 1910). Drasterius minor Schwarz, 1903 is considered species inquirendum.

Color photographs are provided to illustrate the habitus or other diagnostic characters for select species. Distribution maps are based entirely on county data from specimens examined in the study. Corrections to previously-published records and a species checklist for the study area are also provided.