Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-132 119 (India).
A comparative account of male reproductive organs of 25 species of Elateridae (Coleoptera) has been described. Of these, ten belong to subfamily Agrypninae represented by six species of Agrypnus (A. lupinosus, A. transversus, A. tostus, A. tuberosus, A. inlustris and A. compestris), three of Lanelator (L. glabrosus, L. vishvai, and L. scutopentagonus), and one of Lacon (L. carinatus). Five belong to Ampedinae represented by single genus Ampedus (A. fonceatus, A. binotatus, A. multinotatus, A. unicoloris and A. scutoplanus), four to Conoderinae represented by one from Conoderus (C. nigripes) and three from Heteroderes (H. farus, H. tubularis and H. lenis). In addition, three belong to Cardiophorinae represented by single genus Cardiophorus (C. bucculatus, C. nigrosuturus and C. unicus), and one each to Hemirrhipinae represented by Chalcolepis (C. pannus), Chalcolepidiinae represented by Campsosternus (C. gigas) and Melanotinae represented by Melanotus (M. foliarus). Generally, the two testes are separate and located distinctly apart, but superficially connected apically in Cardiophorus bucculatus and fused to form a single median testis in the species of Ampedinae and Conoderinae (except Heteroderes lenis). In paired condition, each testis consists of a large number of follicles of variable shape and size. These are compactly arranged in most of the species, but loosely in H. lenis, rosette-like in Agrypnustostus, Campsosternus gigas, Cardiophorus nigrosuturus and C. unicus. The unpaired testis consists of invariably six long and slender follicles. The seminal vesicle is present in Cardiophorus nigrosuturus, Heteroderes tubularis, Ampedus multinotatus and A. unicoloris only. There are generally four pairs of accessory glands, but five paris are present in H. lenis, three pairs in Agrypnus compestris, Conoderus nigripes, Heteroderes farus and in the species of Ampedus, and only two pairs in the species of Cardiophorus (except nigrosuturus). On the basis of number and shape of testis and its follicles, number of accessory glands and presence or absence of seminal vesicles, Hemirrihipinae, Chalcolepidiinae and Melanotinae form one group, Agrypninae and Cardiophorinae form another group, whereas Conoderinae and Ampedinae each form a separate group.
