Cardiophorus Eschscholtz, 1829

Etzler, Frank E. & Seibert, Catherine E., 2022, Checklist of the Elateridae (Coleoptera) of Montana, USA, with Taxonomic Notes, The Coleopterists Bulletin 76 (3), pp. 449-477 : 473

Cardiophorus Eschscholtz, 1829 .

The generic concept of Cardiophorus has been revised for the world ( Douglas 2017) and some North American species have been moved to Paracardiophorus Schwarz, 1895 (see below). Difficulties still exist for identifying species within both genera in western North America because the most recent key to species for the Pacific Northwest ( Lanchester 1971), which includes part of western Montana, is very difficult to use, and includes many overlapping characters and incorrect comparisons (H. Douglas, personal communication). Douglas (2017) also stated that the current generic concept of Cardiophorus is paraphyletic. Species names in this checklist are applied as best as currently possible and mostly follow those of Blanchard (1889), unless those species were treated by Douglas (2003); however, many changes should be expected for the North American Cardiophorinae fauna in the future.

Because of these difficulties,certain species deserve comment. With the exceptions of Cardiophorus convexus (Say) and Cardiophorus longior LeConte , species names should be treated with caution. Cardiophorus carbonatus Blanchard and Cardiophorus latiusculus Eschscholtz may eventually be considered one species, if the male genitalia characters of the latter mentioned by Lanchester match the type. In this checklist, C. carbonatus have setae all black and pronotal interspaces dull, while C. latiusculus , here represented only by females, have setae gray and interspaces shining. Cardiophorus montanus Bland likely comprises two species, with only the Madison Co. and Lewis and Clark Co. specimens being true C. montanus . Three of the Montana Cardiophorus pubescens Blanchard specimens are black and appear to match the description of Blanchard’s Wyoming specimens he examined when he described the species, but one female from Gallatin Co. matches the Horn specimen from New Mexico at theMCZC,alsomentionedbyBlanchard. Cardiophorus sp. nr. robustus LeConte appears to comprise three species based on male genitalia, united by the small second antennomere. Cardiophorus tenebrosus LeConte and “ Cardiophorus sp. nr. tenebrosus ” specimens are distinguishable by the male genitalia. The latter species has a narrower median lobe of the aedeagus and more prominent apical expansions or hooks on the parameres compared to C. tenebrosus . However , these associations may change with a proper revision.