The life history of Corymbites cupreus F. is described, and its economic importance is assessed from field observations and laboratory experiments. The females are on the wing in May and June, egg‐laying takes place in June and the incubation period is about 34 days. The larval stage probably occupies 5 years under field conditions and pupation occurs towards the end of July or beginning of August. The imagines emerge in about 21 days, but they do not always remain in their earthen pupal cells until the following spring as do several other Elaterid species. The larvae feed principally on the roots and underground stems of plants, but they can exist on decayed organic matter in the soil. Individually they are far more injurious to potatoes, wheat, oats, barley and other cultivated crops than those of either Agriotes spp. or Athous niger, but because they are restricted to comparatively high altitudes, they are seldom pests of major importance. Birds and cara‐bid larvae readily feed on them and they are also subject to attack by a hymeno‐pteran parasite and the fungi, Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metsch) Sor. and Synglio‐cladium cleoni (Wize) Petch. All attempts to obtain control of the
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