REVISION OF THE GENUS METRIAULACUS SCHWAR Z (COLEOPTERA, ELATERIDAE, MELANOTINAE)

The results of this study have given us to the knowledge of eight spec ies belonging to the genus Metriaulacus Schwarz of which three are des cribed in this paper for the first time. A key to species is provided. They could be divided in two groups according to the hind angles of p ronotum, unicarinate or bicarinate. The five unicarinate species are m orphologically very similar and often only after the examination of th e male genitalia, very peculiar, we can arrive to a clear identificati on. On the contrary the three bicarinate species are more easily separ ated by the morphological characters, one (emarginatus, sp. n.) has th e elytral apex emarginate, another (formosanus Miwa) don't possess an anterior margin of frons strongly protruding above clypeus as the gene rality of the species. The genus is widespread from North India to Ind onesia, Malaysia and Philippines but only a species (gobius Candeze) i s recorded in all this large area, the majority of the species seem to be more localized.