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RECLASSIFICATION OF SUBFAMILY AGRYPNINAE 13 
Certain recent workers (Arnett, 1952; Arnett, Mignot & Smith, 1969) base the 
family-group name (subfamily, tribe), which they apply to the Elateridae considered 
in the present work, on Adelocera. They are presumably basing their action on 
Buysson (1893), who believed that a family-group name should be based on the 
oldest included genus within the category under consideration. However Article 36 
of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature makes it quite clear that the 
family-group name must be based on Agrypnus, on which Candéze (1857), who 
was the first worker to propose a name for a supra-generic group, based the name 
of the tribe Agrypnides. Candéze’s comment at the bottom of page 14 suggests 
that Lacordaire was responsible for the naming of the tribe. Though this may 
be true (Candéze, 1857 : vi), Candéze’s work bears the date Mai, 1857 whereas 
Lacordaire’s did not appear until June of the same year (see p. 291). 
Diacnosis. Underside of the prothorax with grooves for the reception of part, or the 
whole, of the antennae. The grooves occupy the position and at least one third of the length 
of the prosternopleural sutures. Meso- and metasternum not connate between the mesocoxae. 
DISTRIBUTION. The subfamily is represented in all regions. The largest number 
of genera and species is found in the Ethiopian and Oriental regions. Only a 
single species, Agrypnus variabilis (Candéze), occurs in New Zealand. Sharp 
(1877 : 479) comments that he suspects that this species has been introduced 
[from Australia] by marine traffic; it appears now to be fairly well established 
(see p. 227). 
Though the characteristics listed above distinguish the species considered in this 
work from all other Elateridae, I believe that the subfamily includes species which 
are only very distantly related. Further studies and the evaluation of the impor- 
tance at family-group level of such characteristics as the setae at the base of the 
claws, the tibial spurs and the structure of the margin of the mesocoxal cavity may 
eventually provide a basis for the subdivision of the family on more natural lines. 
ADELOCERA Latreille 
Adeloceva Latreille, 1829 : 451. Type-species: Elatey ovalis Germar, by subsequent designation 
(Hyslop, 1921 : 632). 
[Lacon sensu Germar, 1840 and subsequent authors nec Castelnau, 1836. Pars.] 
Agraeus Candéze, 1857: 165. Type-species: Agraeus mannerheimi Candéze, by monotypy. 
Syn. n. 
_ Pericus Candéze, 1857 : 167. Type-species: Pericus nitidus Candéze, by monotypy. Syn. n. 
Brachylacon Motschulsky, 1858 : 60. Type-species: Brachylacon microcephalus Motschulsky, 
by monotypy. [Wrongly synonymized with Lacon Castelnau by Gemminger & Harold, 
1864: 1491.] Syn.n. 
Tvachylacon Motschulsky, 1858: 61. Type-species: Tvachylacon fulvicollis Motschulsky, by 
subsequent designation (Hyslop, 1921 : 672). [Synonymized with Agvaeus Candéze by 
Schwarz, 1906 : 27.] 
| Cavicoxum Pic, 1928 : 21. Type-species: Cavicoxum monstrosum Pic, by monotypy. [Synony- 
mized with Agraeus Candéze by Fleutiaux, 1931 : 79.] 
Prolacon Fleutiaux, 1934d : 179. Type-species: Pyolacon alluaudi Fleutiaux by monotypy. 
Syn. n. 
Aganolacon Ohira, 1967 : 55 (as a subgenus of Brachylacon). Type-species: Aganolacon shirozui 
Ohira, by monotypy. Syn. n. 
