Evolution of the Scarabaeini (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Abstract

Abstract. A phylogenetic analysis of the Scarabaeini, based on 244 morphological characters, including 154 multistate and three biological characters, is presented. Tree topologies generated from unweighted data and some weighted algorithms are similar and support only two clades in the tribe representing the genera Scarabaeus L. and Pachylomerus Bertoloni. The only supported subordinate groups treated in this paper as subgenera are Kheper Kirby stat. nov., Pachysoma MacLeay, Scarabaeolus Balthasar and Sceliages Westwood stat. nov.Drepanopodus Janssens syn. nov. is synonymised with Scarabaeus and six additional names, Madateuchus Paulian, Mnematidium Ritsema, Mnematium MacLeay, Neateuchus Gillet, Neomnematium Janssens and Neopachysoma Ferreira, remain synonyms. A single origin of flightlessness is supported with the subgenus Pachysoma, the most derived lineage in this clade. Rolling dung balls backwards is the ancestral behaviour and predominant mode of food relocation in Scarabaeini, although tunnelling, forward pushing, and carrying also are utilized by some lineages. Pushing food has evolved independently in Sceliages species and S. galenus (Westwood) and a novel mode of forward food relocation by dragging evolved in the subgenus Pachysoma. Feeding on wet dung is the plesiomorphic condition and maintained by the majority of species in the tribe. The most unusual feeding behaviours in the tribe are represented by the obligate millipede‐feeding species of Sceliages and the dry dung pellet and/or detritus feeders of Pachysoma.