85 



Orphninae have been related to Hybosoridae (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1977; Paulian 1984), 

 Ochodaeidae (Blackwelder 1944; Paulian 1984) and Aphodiinae + Melolonthinae 

 (Chalumeau & Gruner 1974). d'Hotman & Scholtz (1990a) proposed that orphnines lie 

 phylogenetically near Scarabaeinae and Melolonthinae. They found that the aedeagus 

 resembles those of Hopliinae and several Melolonthinae genera. 



Orphninae share 22 apomorphic character states of the wing articulation and wing base 

 with Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Cetoniinae, Oncerinae, Chasmatopterinae, 

 Acoma, Hopliinae, Trichiinae and Valginae (Browne 1993). 



Melolonthinae 



Introduction 



The Melolonthinae are a very large, diverse group with cosmopolitan distribution. 

 According to Ritcher (1958), adults do not feed or they are strictly phytophagous, feeding 

 on leaves, flowers or young fruits. Larvae feed on plant roots or humus. 



Hind Wing Articulation Description 



First Axillary (Fig. 136) 



Head - Dorsal surface strongly reduced posteriorly; broad; weakly clavate; convex. Antero- 

 dorsal margin oriented weakly postero-distad; normal width; very convex. Antero- 

 proximal margin with ventral enlargement reduced. Po stem -proximal margin enlargement 

 moderate and broad. FSc2 base weakly enlarged; deeply concave. Apex oriented postero- 

 distad; rounded but narrowly so. Anterior surface narrow; long; waisted medially. FScl 

 absent. Ventral projection long and narrow; enlarged mesally; deeply concave; oriented 

 ventrad and weakly postero-distad. Dorsal surface base to median concave. Ventral surface 

 convex. Apex wider than base; strongly flared; truncate. Concavity basad and moderately 

 extended apicad from the base of the ventral projection; surrounded by three unequally 

 strong ridges. Distal embayment oriented ventro-mesad. FSc2 oriented distad and weakly 

 dorsad; square; convex; broad; moderately short. Dorsal surface enlarged dorsally; convex; 

 appears twisted. Ventral surface convex. Base proximally with a large convexity. Apex 

 aciculate. Head and neck dorsal surface extended anteriad. 



Neck normal width; long; weakly oriented antero-distad; articulation with 2Ax extends 

 along the distal margin of the neck and tail; continuous with tail. Proximal margin reduced; 

 sinuate; not curved ventrad. Distal margin concave. Distal embayment moderately concave; 

 moderately shallow but broad. 



Tail - Dorsal view: Proximal arch normal size. Dorsal surface weakly concave. Antero- 

 proximal margin weakly convex. Postero-proximal margin straight. Articulation with PRR 

 strong along the entire length of the proximal arch; very long but narrow; weakly recurved. 

 Antero-dorsal surface concave. Postero-dorsal surface concave. Posterior margin weakly 

 concave. Distal arch normal size. Apex weakly curved posteriad and ventrad; aciculate. 

 Distal margin weakly concave. - Ventral view: Proximal arch with a weak ridge. Distal 

 arch with a very small ridge. Posterior margin with a prominent but slender ridge. 



