Cardiophorus: subgenus Cardiophorus Eschscholtz, 1829 Figs 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 15, 20, 27, 32, 33, 81-84

Cardiophorus Eschscholtz, 1829: 34. Type species: Elater thoracicus Fabricius, 1801: 236, now a synonym of Cardiophorus gramineus (Scopoli, 1763).

Caloderus Stephens, 1830: 269. Type species: Elater thoracicus Fabricius, 1801: 236.

Melanotus Gistel, 1834: 11, not Eschscholtz, 1829: 32. Type species Elater thoracicus Fabricius, 1801: 236, designated by Sánchez (1996) [not in References].

Paradicronychus Dolin and Gurjeva, 1975: 116 (nomen nudum) -Here placed as syn. n. of Cardiophorus .

Diagnosis.

Head. Mandibles with two or three apices. Prothorax. Pronotum with lateral carina not reaching anterior third (Fig. 3), hidden in dorsal view by overhanging edge of dorsal part of pronotum (= submarginal line). Pterothorax. Scutellum with anterior edge emarginate (Fig. 8); Edge of elytra in dorsal view between anterior-most point and humeral angle sinuate or tuberculate (Fig. 15). Legs. Tarsi without ventral lobes; and tarsal claws with one apex per side. Also. Labrum convex in lateral view . Bursa copulatrix with proximal (largest, or only) sclerites ovoid (Fig. 83); base of spermathecal gland duct not sclerotised (Fig. 33 shows adjacent sclerite). Paraphyletic, known from: North America, Eurasia, Africa, 547 spp.