Larval and adult characters of Frickius Germain, its relationship to the Geotrupini, and a phytogeny of some major taxa in the Scarabaeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera)

Adults and larvae of the scarab beetle Frickius variolosus Germain are described. Frickius and Taurocerastes Phil. are considered sister genera. Both adult and larval characters show these to be most closely related to the geotrupine genus Ceratotrupes Jekel and they are placed in the tribe Geotrupini. A phylogeny is presented for the four tribes of the Geotrupinae, nine subfamilies of Scarabaeidae, and the Passalidae and Lucanidae based on analysis of 39 adult and larval characters.