109 



However, Rutelinae are considered to be more closely related to Dynastinae, and 

 Melolonthinae being the sister group of this lineage (Meinecke 1975; Howden 1982). 

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

 with Orphninae, Melolonthinae, Dynastinae, Cetoniinae, Oncerinae, Chasmatopterinae, 

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



Dynastinae 



Introduction 



The Dynastinae are a large cosmopolitan group, which may or may not feed as adults 

 (Ritcher 1958). Ritcher also mentioned that those that do feed probably feed on plant 

 juices obtained from underground stems, shoots or roots. Larval feeding habits are very 

 diverse, and vary from dung, humus and other organic matter, to plant roots. 



Hind Wing Articulation Description 



First Axillary (Fig. 178) 



Head - Dorsal surface strongly reduced posteriorly; broad; not clavate; convex. Antero- 

 dorsal margin oriented strikingly postero-distad; very broad; weakly deplanate. Antero- 

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

 strong and very broad. FSc2 base moderately enlarged; deeply concave. Apex oriented 

 postero-distad; rounded but narrowly so. Anterior surface narrow; long; not waisted 

 medially. FScl absent. Ventral projection long and narrow; enlarged mesally; convex; 

 strongly oriented ventrad and posteriad. Dorsal surface base to subapical area convex. 

 Ventral surface convex. Apex concave; wider than base; strongly flared; truncate. 

 Concavity strongly shifted mesad just past the base of the ventral projection onto the 

 anterior surface of the head, and not extended apicad; surrounded by three equally strong 

 ridges of equal length. Distal embayment oriented ventro-mesad. FSc2 oriented distad and 

 weakly dorsad; deltoid; convex; broad; short. Dorsal surface not enlarged dorsally; convex; 

 not 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 not 

 reduced; convex; curved ventrad. Distal margin concave. Distal embayment concave; 

 moderately deep and broad. 



Tail - Dorsal view: Proximal arch moderately expanded posteriorly and proximally. Dorsal 

 surface moderately concave. Antero -proximal margin very 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 moderately 

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

 Distal arch strikingly reduced anteriorly, distally and posteriorly. Apex weakly curved 

 posteriad and ventrad; very broadly rounded. Distal margin straight. - Ventral view: 

 Proximal posterior and distal margins with slender ridges. 



