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Distribution
The world
fauna consists of about 1500 species (Mizunuma and Nagai 1994) with more species
found in Asia than in other areas. Keys to adults: Benesh 1946; Howden and Lawrence
1974; Ratcliffe 1991. Keys to larvae: Ritcher 1966. Catalogs of North American
species: Benesh 1960; Blackwelder and Arnett 1974. Biology: Milne 1933; Hoffman
1937, Paulsen 2013.
Ecology
Lucanids are usually associated with decaying wood and logs in coniferous and
deciduous forest habitats. Adults of some species are attracted to lights at night
and some feed at sap flows from fluxing trees. Adults of some of the smaller species
have been observed feeding on flowers. The eggs are customarily laid in crevices
in bark or logs, and the larvae feed on decaying wood and are not economically
injurious. The larvae resemble those of Scarabaeidae, but in lucanids the anal
opening is longitudinal or Y-shaped, whereas in scarabs it is usually transverse
or occasionally Y-shaped. References: Ratcliffe 1991.
Larvae
Form scarabaeiform (c-shaped, subcylindrical). Color creamy-white or yellowish
(except at caudal end which may be darkened by accumulated feces). Cranium heavily
sclerotized, lightly pigmented. Antennae 3-4 segmented, last segment greatly reduced
in size. Ocelli absent (present in Platycerini, some Sclerostomini, and Ceratognathini). Frontoclypeal suture
present. Labrum at apex rounded or weakly lobed. Epipharynx rounded or lobed,
with symmetrical tormae. Maxilla with galea and lacinia distinctly separate; maxillary
stridulatory teeth absent (present in Platycerus); maxillary palpus 4-segmented.
Mandibles elongate, asymmetrical. Abdominal segments 3-7 with 2 annuli, each with
1 or more transverse rows of short setae. Spiracles cribriform. Anal opening Y-shaped
or longitudinal, surrounded by 2 fleshy lobes. Legs 4-segmented. Stridulatory
apparatus on meso- and metathoracic legs present; claws present. References: Ritcher
1966; Scholtz 1990.
References Cited
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BENESH, B. 1946. A systematic revision of the Holarctic genus Platycerus
Geoffroy. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 72: 139-202.
BENESH, B. 1960. Coleopterorum Catalogus Supplementa, pars 8:
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BLACKWELDER, R. E. and R. H. ARNETT, JR. 1974. Checklist of the
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Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) based on characters of the hindwing articulation, hindwing
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CAVENEY, S. 1986. The phylogenetic significance of ommatidium
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1-223.
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Takeshiko Nakane in Commemoration of His Retirement. Japanese Society of Coleopterology,
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of Coleoptera (with selected genera, notes, and references and data on family-group
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Online publication Accessed here.
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