240 CG. M: EF. von HAYEK 
Triers ramitarsus Candéze 
Trievs vamitarsus Candéze, 1900 : 78 (3). 
The description is based on an unrecorded number of specimens from Australia, 
probably from the northern part of the continent. 
Type-material: IRSNB, Brussels according to Neboiss (1956 : 15). Not confirmed. 
The generic attribution is based on the following specimen; AUSTRALIA: 4, 
Northern Territory; BM 1968.196; determined from the description, CMFH (BMNH). 
LANELATER Arnett 
[Agrypnus sensu auct., nec Eschscholtz, 1829. Misinterpretation.] 
Amaurus Castelnau, 1840 : 23. Type-species: Amaurus senegalensis Castelnau (=Lanelater 
notodonta (Latreille)), by subsequent designation (Hyslop, 1921 : 625). [Homonym of 
Amaurus Burmeister, 1835, Hemiptera. ] 
Lanelatey Arnett, 1952 : 105. Type-species: Agrypnus schotti LeConte, by original designation. 
GENERIC DIAGNOSIS. Each claw bearing a group of setae near the base (Text-fig. 11). 
Tibial spurs present (Text-fig. 9). Mesepisternum and mesepimeron form part of the margin 
of the mesocoxal cavity (Text-fig. 1). The third antennal segment never resembling the fourth 
in shape, but often considerably longer than the second segment. Antennal groove variable 
in depth but extending at least three-quarters of the length of the prosternopleural suture. 
Body clothed with setae; scales are entirely absent. Propleurae and metasternum without 
depressions or grooves for the accommodation of the anterior and middle tarsi. Prothorax 
simple, without a constriction behind the anterior angles; lateral carinae present. Scutellum 
simple, without longitudinal carina. Tarsi simple, without ventral lobes. 
RANGE OF VARIATION FOUND WITHIN THE GENUS. In general the species included 
in the genus bear a close resemblance to one another. The greatest range of varia- 
tion is found in the antennal groove, which varies considerably in length and depth 
from one species to another. 
HIsTORY OF THE GENUS. Arnett established the genus Lanelater for ‘those 
species which were formerly placed in the genus Agrypnus’ sensu auct., nec 
Eschscholtz, 1829 (type-species Elater tomentosus Fabricius, see below) but which, 
since Lane’s (Arnett, 1952 : 105) discovery that Westwood (1838, Synopsis, p. 26) 
had properly designated Elater murinus Linnaeus as the type-species of Agrypnus 
(see p. 114), could no longer be accommodated in that genus. The next available 
generic name for these species is Amaurus Castelnau, 1840 (type-species Amaurus 
senegalensis Castelnau) but this name is pre-occupied by Amaurus Burmeister, 
1835. 
The interpretation of Agrypnus as a genus containing only species congeneric 
with tomentosus can be traced to Candéze (1857, see p. 114). Before that time 
the genus was poorly defined and in addition to murinus and tomentosus, included 
species now assigned to Lacon (e.g. atomarius Fabricius = punctatus Herbst), 
Danosoma (fasciatus Linnaeus), Alaus (moerens Germar) and Aliteus (adspersus 
Herbst). Hyslop’s designation of tomentosus as the type-species was probably 
made not so much because it heads Eschscholtz’s list of species but because it 
corresponded with the interpretation of Agrypnus at that time. 

