
RECLASSIFICATION OF SUBFAMILY AGRYPNINAE 5 
and previously neglected characteristics which are of considerable importance at 
the generic level. 
THE CHARACTERS USED FOR THE 
SEPARATION OF THE GENERA IN THE PRESENT WORK 
The most important of the characters used in the present work is the structure 
of the middle coxal cavity. Thomson (1864 : 59, 1868 : 91), Schiodte (1865 : 497) and 
more recently Nakane & Kishii (1956 : 202, 203) were aware that this character was of 
some importance, but as Kontkanen (1964 : 48) comments, it has been completely 
forgotten by taxonomists. The other main characteristics are the size and shape 
of the second and third antennal segments, the presence or absence of tibial spurs, 
the position of the propleural grooves for the reception of the tarsi in relation 
to the antennal groove and of the distal end of the metasternal groove for the 
reception of the tarsi in relation to the margin of the metasternum. 
NOTES ON THE KEY TO GENERA AND SUBGENERA 
With the aid of the following key there should be no difficulty in assigning to the 
appropriate genus, as defined in this paper, all species listed in the subfamily 
Agrypninae in the Schenkling (1925) catalogue, with the exception of those 
belonging to the genus Anaspasis (see below), and any Agrypnine species described 
after the publication of the catalogue. 
With one exception (Elater ovalis Germar — see below) the characters used in the 
key have been observed in the holotype or lectotype specimen of the type-species 
of each genus. In only one case (that of Elater ovalis Germar, the type- 
species of Adelocera) did the search for the type-material or indeed any determined 
material prove completely unsuccessful. In this case the generic characters are 
drawn from the lectotype of another species, Lacon occidentalis Candéze, shown 
later in the present work (p. 21) to be congeneric with, and very similar in 
appearance to, ovalis Germar. 
Anaspasis Candéze (1882 : 4) was excluded from the Agrypnitae [sic] by Fleutiaux 
(1941c : 48) because of the strong resemblance it bears to Protelater Sharp (1877). 
Golbach (1953 : 278) is in agreement with Fleutiaux. Examination of the type- 
species of the two genera, Protelater elongatus Sharp (1877 : 482) and Anaspasis 
fasciolata Candéze (1882: 5), has shown that Fleutiaux was fully justified in his 
action. Both species differ from all Agrypnine genera in the shape of the frons 
and the absence of an antennal groove occupying a position corresponding to the 
whole or part of the length of the prosternopleural suture. In addition they lack 
setae at the base of the claws and possess tibial spurs. Crowson (1961 : 160) 
discusses the apparent affinities of Protelatery but the true relationships of this and 
certain other genera, including Anaspasis, have yet to be discovered. 
Fleutiaux (1907) : 170) included the monobasic genus Aniws Candéze (1889) in 
the ‘Agrypnides’ but omits it without comment from his key to the Agrypnitae 
(Fleutiaux, 1941c). The type-material of the type-species, gracillimus Candéze, 
was received on loan shortly before this paper was submitted for publication. 
The inclusion of the species in the Agrypninae has been confirmed but further 
