68 



from the neck. Dorsal surface ovoid; strongly convex; polished; elevated from the neck 

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

 Basivenale broadly deltoid; polished. 



Discussion 



Although aphodiines do not exhibit any autapomorphic wing articulation and wing base 

 characters, they do share seven derived states of the wing articulation and wing base with 

 Aulonocneminae and Aegialiinae, which together form a monophyletic group (Browne 

 1993). It is likely that these three taxa together form Aphodiinae, as has been implied by 

 other workers (Koshantschikov 1913; Scholtz 1990). Aphodiinae share 46 apomorphic 

 character states of the wing articulation and wing base with Aegialiinae, Aulonocneminae 

 and Scarabaeinae (Browne 1993). 



Aegialiinae 



Introduction 



Aegialiines are usually small and resemble aphodiines. They have been reported from 

 North America, Europe, India and Tasmania (Arnett 1968). The Aegialiinae was divided 

 by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1977) into three tribes, the Chironini, Aegialiini, Eremazini. 

 Representatives of the latter two tribes will be discussed. Adults are thought to be 

 saprophagous and larvae feed on decaying organic matter (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1977). 



Hind Wing Articulation Description 



First Axillary (Fig. 108) 



Head - Dorsal surface strikingly reduced posteriorly; convex; all margins are equally 

 extremely narrow and very long. Antero-dorsal margin oriented weakly postero-distad; 

 reduced in width; planate. Ant ero -proximal margin with ventral enlargement reduced. 

 Postero -proximal margin enlargement reduced and absent. FSc2 base normal width. Apex 

 oriented postero-distad; rounded. Anterior surface strikingly narrow; strikingly short; not 

 waisted medially. FScl distinct; short but broad. Dorsal and ventral surfaces convex. Apex 

 acute. Ventral projection long and narrow; enlarged mesally; deeply concave; strongly 

 oriented postero-distad, weakly ventrad and not curved posteriad. Dorsal surface concave. 

 Ventral surface convex. Concavity located in the preapical area; surrounded by three 

 unequally strong ridges. Distal embayment oriented mesad. FSc2 fused to the distal margin 

 of the ventral projection; oriented distad and weakly dorsad; reduced; small; round; 

 planate; broad. Dorsal surface not enlarged; convex. Ventral surface convex. Apex rounded. 

 Head and neck dorsal surface extended anteriad. 



Neck strikingly narrow; strikingly long; strongly oriented distad and ventrad; articulation 

 with 2 Ax narrow, reduced anteriorly; continuous with tail. Proximal margin not curved 

 ventrad. Distal margin straight. Distal embayment shallow. 



Tail - Dorsal view: Proximal arch strikingly reduced anteriorly and posteriorly; expanded 

 proximally; strongly convex. Dorsal surface weakly concave. Antero-proximal margin 



