232 Gc. M. F. von HAYEK 
DISTRIBUTION. Africa, Madagascar, India, Indonesia, Southern U.S.A. 
BIOLOGY AND HABITS. The larvae of Meristhus (Sulcimerus) niponensis Lewis 
live in the ground (Ohira, 1962). A Meristhus sp. near lepidotus Palisot de Beauvois 
commonly occurs on the fore dunes of the eastern South African seaboard. The 
adults have been found burrowing in the sand, usually in the neighbourhood of the 
dune plants, on which the larvae (which are unknown) probably feed (Callan, 
1964 : 128). 
THE SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE GENUS 
The Schenkling catalogue (1925 : 35) lists the names of 22 species, of which 
two are regarded as synonyms of scobinula Candéze. Two species have been 
described since the publication of the catalogue. The assignment of eight species 
to Meristhus (s.1.) has been confirmed and the scobinula Candéze-texanus Horn 
synonymy provisionally accepted. Fleutiaux (1947 : 457) transferred three species 
to Rismethus and eight additional species are transferred to that genus in the present 
work. The remaining four species, evinaceus Candéze, indecorus Candéze, ornatulus 
Candéze and longicollis Candéze are unknown to me. 
Meristhus (Meristhus) angulicollis Fairmaire 
Meristhus angulicollis Fairmaire, 1897 : 382. 
The description is based on an unrecorded number of specimens collected at 
Suberbieville [MADAGASCAR] by Perrier. 
Type-material: ? MNHN, Paris, or possible IRSNB, Brussels (see p. 275). Up to 
the present time no specimens from the type-locality with Fairmaire’s determination 
label have been located in the MNHN, Paris. 
The generic attribution is based on the following specimens which may be syntypes; 
MADAGASCAR: I 9, Suberbieville (Perrier); Meristhus angulicollis Fairm. t. Fleut. 
I g, 1 2, Madg™, Suberb", H. Perrier; Museum Paris, Madagascar, coll. Perrier 
de la Bathie. The female bears Fleutiaux’s determination label (MNHN, Paris). 
2 ex, Suberbieville, 1903.28; Meristhus angulicollis Fairm. (BMNH). The registra- 
tion number refers to a collection, including ‘paratypes’, purchased from Donckier. 
Meristhus (Meristhus) lepidotus (Palisot de Beauvois) 
Elatey lepidotus Palisot de Beauvois, 1805 : 11; Coleoptera, pl. 7, fig. 6. 
Lacon lepidopterus Chevrolat, 1852 : 631. [Unjustified emendation.] 
Meristhus lepidotus (Palisot de Beauvois) Candéze, 1857 : 163. 
Meristhus lepidotus var. a (Agrypnus bohemanni Dej. in la Ferté Mus.) Candéze, 1857 : 163. 
LECTOTYPE (present designation). NIGERIA: g, Benin; Janson coll. 1903.130; 
Elater lepidotus P. de B., Agrypnus lepidotus Dej. ex coll. Dejean (Palisot de 
Beauvois) [ Janson]; Meristhus lepidotus Pal. de Beauv. Cdze, type [ Janson] (BMNH). 
Paralectotype: g, Benin, Meristhus lepidotus P. de B. Cdze, ex coll. Dejean 
(Palisot de Beauvois) [Janson] (BMNH). 
