50 



BMP-BCuA Brace partially reduced; weakly distinct; short; moderately narrow; formed 

 as a tube-like convexity from the distal margin of 2BP; extends posteriad from 2BP antero- 

 distal section; equally broad along the entire length. Anterior to postero-median section 

 partially reduced. Posterior section continuous with BCuA. Terminus not prominent; 

 weakly fused to the anterior section of BCuA, just mesad of the distal margin. 



Medial Basivenalia - General habitus: broad and moderately long; rectangular. Anterior 

 and posterior margins straight. Distal margin deeply concave; strongly elevated from 

 suiTounding membrane. BMA broadly scaphoid; short; completely fused to BMP. Proximal 

 surface weakly convex. Medial and distal surfaces strongly convex. Anterior margin 

 straight. Proximal arch weakly distinct; planate and straight; enlarged antero-proximally; 

 extremely small; slender; acerose. Distal arch weakly distinct; extremely broad but short; 

 strongly convex. BMP rectangular; markedly convex; very weakly separated from BMA 

 by a shallow concavity; brace fused to BMP; separated from both IBP and BCu by 

 membrane. Proximal section weakly separated from BMA; convex; slopes ventro-distad. 

 Antero-distal section long; narrow; rectangular; strongly convex; discontinuous from the 

 postero-distal section. Postero-distal section similar to the latter, but less convex. 



Cubital Basivenalia moderately narrowly fused. Postero-proximal margin of BCuA fused 

 with the antero-proximal margin of BCuP. Suture line present. BCuA narrow; moderately 

 long; convex; oriented distad; strongly sclerotized. Anterior margin with a moderately 

 broad, but shallow, concavity. Distal margin strongly extended posteriad as a slender 

 convexity; weakly sinuate. BCuP broad; convex; oriented posteriad; moderately 

 sclerotized. Distal embayment broad but moderately shallow. - Cubitus Anterior 

 continuous with BCuA. Junction marked by a narrow concave groove. 



Basalare (Fig. 79) 



Head - HP lobe large; continuous with neck. Apex broadly truncate. Dorsal surface very 

 strongly elevated from neck; not polished. BScP lobe claviform; short; projects posteriad 

 from neck. Dorsal surface ovoid; weakly convex; polished; elevated from neck but not 

 as strongly as the HP lobe. Ventral surface not polished. - Posterior Subcostal Basivenale 

 broadly deltoid; polished. 



Discussion 



Monophyly of the Geotrupidae is supported by the fact that all of the taxa in this group 

 share the following three apomorphic character states of the wing articulation and wing 

 base: 



1. 2Ax: the dorso-distal ridge apex is long and curved 



2. the anterior section is strikingly elongate 



3. IBP: ScA-BR brace present. 



Geotrupidae share 1 2 apomorphic character states of the wing articulation and wing base 

 with Hybosoridae, Ochodaeidae and Ceratocanthidae (Browne & Scholtz 1995). Analysis 

 of wing articulation and wing base characters indicates that Geotrupidae are the sister 

 group of Hybosoridae + Ochodaeidae + Ceratocanthidae (Browne & Scholtz 1995). 



