The morphology and terminology of the hindwing articulation and wing base of the Coleoptera, with specific reference to the Scarabaeoidea

Abstract. Characters of the hindwing articulation and wing base are important for contributing to the solution of phylogenetic and systematic problems in the Coleoptera. In the Scarabaeoidea morphological terms proposed by previous authors do not cover many structures in sufficient detail and additional terms are needed to describe and utilize all characters used in systematic considerations; these can be used for all Coleoptera. In this paper we identify new structures, the first basal plate and the second basal plate (two subdivisions of the coleopteran wing base), name the various yokes, braces and reinforcements found on them and propose names for various projections, lobes, indentations and embayments on the axillary sclerites (first axillary, head, neck and tail; second axillary, arm and body; third axillary, prong; basalare).