88 



below the posterior margin of ScA bulge; extremely narrow; convex; angled antero- 

 proximad. Embayment normal size. Distal arch discontinuous with radial stem; moderately 

 broad; convex; broadly curved proximad; oriented postero-proximad. br strongly sclero- 

 tized; occupies about one-third of the proximal arch; discontinuous with BR. br projection 

 broad along its entire length; concave; distinct from BScA. 



Second Basal Plate (Fig. 141) 



MA-BMA Junction absent. - MP-BMP Junction: MP broadly continuous with BMP; arises 

 from below the BMP-BCuA brace. - Crimp Patterns absent. - BMP-CuA Brace absent. 

 - BMP-BCuA Brace present but modified; discontinuous with BMP; entire and greatly 

 strengthened; extends posteriad; moderately enlarged; equally broad along the entire 

 length; convex; distinct from BMP. Terminus fused to the disto-medial section of BCuA. 

 Point of fusion continuous. 



Medial Basivenalia reduced proximally. BMA broadly scaphoid; completely fused to BMP. 

 Proximal surface convex. Medial and distal surfaces planate. Anterior margin weakly 

 concave. Proximal arch moderately long; planate and straight; oriented proximad; strongly 

 curved ventrad. Apex terminates below BR proximal arch apex. Distal arch indistinct; 

 fused to the proximal section of BMP. BMP junction with BMA discontinuous and very 

 broad; fused to brace; markedly convex; separated from both IBP and BCu by membrane. 

 Proximal section broadly deltoid; planate; slopes ventro-distad. Distal section indistin- 

 guishable from BMP-BCuA brace; long; broad; rectangular; strongly convex. 

 Cubital Basivenalia narrowly fused; slender and long. Postero-proximal margin of BCuA 

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

 narrow and long; convex; oriented distad; lies posteriad of BMP; strongly sclerotized. 

 Anterior margin with a broad shallow concavity. Distal margin continuous with CuA. 

 BCuP ovoid; convex; oriented posteriad; moderately sclerotized. Distal embayment very 

 broad and deep. - Cubitus Anterior fused to BCuA. Junction marked by a distinct suture. 



Basalare (Fig. 142) 



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

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

 neck. Dorsal surface rectangular; weakly convex; polished; depressed from neck; slopes 

 ventrad. Ventral surface polished. - Posterior Subcostal Basivenale rectangular; polished. 



Discussion 



Although Melolonthinae, as it is currently recognized, do not display any autapomorphic 

 character states of the wing articulation and wing base, they do share two apomorphic 

 character states of the wing articulation and wing base with Acoma, Hopliinae, Oncerinae 

 and Chasmatopterinae. It is likely that these taxa together form Melolonthinae (Browne 

 1993). 



Melolonthinae have been associated with Glaphyridae and Oncerinae (Fowler 1912, in 

 Yadav & Pillai 1979), Aphodiinae (Yadav 1973) and Dynastinae (Howden 1982). However, 

 Melolonthinae are most commonly considered to be the sister group of Rutelinae or 



