RECLASSIFICATION OF SUBFAMILY AGRYPNINAE 235 
RISMETAHUS Fileutiaux 
Rismethus Fleutiaux, 1947: 257. Type-species: Meristhus scobinula Candéze, by original 
designation. 
GENERIC DIAGNOSIS. Each tarsal claw with a group of setae near the base (Text-fig. 11). 
Tibial spurs absent (Text-fig. 10). Mesepisternum and mesepimeron do not form part of the 
margin of the mesocoxal cavity (Text-fig. 2). Second and third antennal segments cylindrical, 
not triangular like the fourth and following segments (Text-fig. 13). (Golbach, 1969a : 141, 
corrected the printer’s error in Fleutiaux’s paper concerning the length of the second and third 
antennal segments.) Antennal groove not extending beyond the anterior half of the prosterno- 
pleural suture but deep enough to accommodate the rolled antennae. Body clothed with 
scales. Prothorax constricted immediately behind the anterior angles; lateral carina does not 
attain the anterior margin. Propleurae and metasternum with depressions for the reception 
of the anterior and middle tarsi, but never with well defined grooves. Scutellum simple or 
with a longitudinal carina. Tarsi simple, without ventral lobes. 
The constriction of the prothorax immediately behind the anterior angles is the 
only characteristic distinguishing the members of this genus from Agrypnus and 
Meristhus. Another characteristic feature, the abbreviated lateral carina of the 
prothorax also occurs in certain Agrypnus species, e.g. flavescens Candéze. As 
more material becomes available it may become apparent that the shape of the 
prothorax is not of sufficient importance to warrant the retention of the genus. 
However, since no intermediate forms are known at the present time the genus 
has been retained in this work. 
HISTORY OF THE GENUS. The genus was established for species congeneric 
with scobinula Candéze, which Fleutiaux considered could not be included in the 
same genus (Meristhus) as lepidotus Palisot de Beauvois and quadripunctatus Can- 
déze. According to Fleutiaux, the distinctive features of the genus are that the 
scutellum is simple and that the metasternal tarsal depressions are less strongly 
impressed than those on the propleurae. Study of the available material has 
shown that these characters are of no importance at the generic level and the 
genus is here redefined. 
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. The sexes appear to be indistinguishable externally. 
DISTRIBUTION. Madagascar, Ceylon, ?Burma (‘Ind. or.’), Indonesia, China, 
Samoa, Texas and Central America. 
BIOLOGY AND HABITS. Nothing is known of the life history and habits of the 
species included in the genus. 
THE SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE GENUS RISMETHUS 
Fleutiaux included three species in the genus. Golbach (1969a@ : 141) transferred 
cristatus Horn and squanuiger Champion to the genus. The generic assignment 
of the latter is confirmed. In my opinion there is no justification for the inclusion 
of cristatus, in which the prothorax is not constricted behind the anterior angles, 
in Rismethus. Seven species are newly assigned to Rismethus. 
