Genus Elaphrolaelaps Berlese, 1910

Pachylaelaps (Elaphrolaelaps) Berlese, 1910a: 257 .

Type species Pachylaelaps (Elaphrolaelaps) fenestratus Berlese, 1910, by original designation.

Pachylaelaps (Elaphrolaelaps) was briefly and inadequately described by Berlese (1910a), to accommodate the type species Elaphrolaelaps fenestratus, which was found in association with scarabaeid beetles of the genus Copris in Java, Indonesia. The genus now includes eight species, all described from association with scarabaeid beetles, and all from Africa except for the type species. Elaphrolaelaps nepalensis Samšiňák & Daniel, 1978 is incorrectly placed in this genus (see details later).

Ryke (1959) suggested that the genus Elaphrolaelaps might be synonymous with Paralaelaps Trägårdh, 1908 . Both genera have a genitiventral shield that is free, relatively small, not markedly enlarged behind ventral setae Jv1, and well separated from the anal shield. However, Spies & Ryke (1965) showed that these two genera differed in the chaetotaxy of the dorsal shield and soft integument of the idiosoma. We follow these authors in considering Paralaelaps and Elaphrolaelaps as separate genera, using the differential characters presented in the keys.

The type species E. fenestratus has never been described or re-described in detail. As a result, it is difficult to construct a reliable diagnosis for the genus. The most valuable information on the genus was presented by Costa (1974, 1975) and Elsen (1974a, 1974b). Elsen (1974a) divided the genus into two subgenera, Elaphrolaelaps (Incisosternum) and Elaphrolaelaps s. str. His new subgenus was based primarily on the presence of a deep incision on the posterior margin of the sternal shield, the reduced number of setae in the soft integument, and the greatly elongated setae inserted around the margins of the dorsal shield.