PHYLOGENY OF THE FAMILIES OF SCARABAEOIDEA (COLEOPTERA) BASED ON CHARACTERS OF THE HINDWING ARTICULATION, HINDWING BASE AND WING VENATION

A study is made of the articulation and base of the hindwings of Scara baeoidea. The survey is based on an examination of over 250 genera fro m thirteen scarabaeoid families. Relationships among all families of S carabaeoidea are examined here for the first time. The reconstructed p hylogeny shows that the Scarabaeoidea is comprised of three major line ages: a glaresid, passalid and scarabaeid lineage. The glaresid lineag e consists only of the Glaresidae. The passalid lineage is comprised o f two major lines: a passalid line (containing Passalidae, Lucanidae, Diphyllostomatidae, Glaphyridae, Trogidae, Bolboceratidae and Pleocomi dae) and a geotrupid line (containing Geotrupidae, Ochodaeidae, Cerato canthidae and Hybosoridae). The scarabaeid lineage contains those taxa traditionally included within the Scarabaeidae (Aegialiinae, Aulonocn eminae, Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae, Orphninae, Melolonthinae, Acoma, Cha smatopterinae, Hopliinae, Oncerinae, Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Trichiinae , Cetoniinae and Valginae). Additional evidence, from other character suites, supporting this breakdown of the Scarabaeoidea is given.