I found the first of many of these yellow elaterid-looking larvae by lifting some moist moss growing atop a boulder in a natural seep area of the mountainside (and replacing it of course) located in the lower krummholz zone. I recalled that many byr*rhids are said to resemble elaterids and that they eat mosses. (Some eat other things too as I have since learned.) The more I found the more convinced I became that they were indeed byr*rhids. If one is not in fact and elaterid, then I seem to have found at least two species based on differences in size, profile, color, and shape of posterior terminus.

Since bringing these larvae back to the warmth of southern New Hampshire over half have died in their leftovers container stuffed with moss. I gave the survivors a larger container with more air flow hoping it will enable some to mature.

Here is a link in which the author of the American Beetles section on Byrr*hidae includes descriptive and natural history information on byrrh*id larvae.

These larvae were found as a byproduct of my search for Py*tho stri*ctus.