Ataenius ovatulus Horn 1871

Ataenius ovatulus Horn

Ataenius ovatulus Horn, 1871:286; 1875:142, 1887:78—Schmidt, 1922:431.

Ataenius lecontei Harold, 1874a:20.—Horn, 1875:142.—Schmidt, 1922:447.—Robinson, 1948:177.

Ataenius cylindrus.—Horn, 1875:142 [not Horn, 1871:289].

DESCRIPTION.—Length 3.0 to 4.0 mm; width 1.4 to 1.7 mm. Elongate-oval, convex, shining, dark reddish brown to piceous, anterior margin of clypeus and legs usually reddish brown. Head convex, clypeus with small, sharp, triangular tooth each side of a wide, moderate, median emargination, margin very finely reflexed, sides arcuate to sharply rounded, right-angled genae; surface slightly wrinkled, narrowly concave behind median emargination, apparently smooth but actually minutely punctate, more noticeably so toward sides where they are very fine and separated generally by their own diameters; punctures of frontal-occipital area gradually minute to very moderate, separated by their own diameters or less. Pronotum convex, averaging about 1.5 mm wide by 1.1 mm long, sides and base margined, very finely fimbriate-crenate, setae fine, short, inconspicuous, crenations noticeable at slightly emarginate hind angles, base evenly arcuate, anterior angles obtusely rounded; surface with mixed minute and moderately coarse punctures, discal coarse punctures irregularly spaced from less than one to four or more diameters, close to dense over outer third, the coarse punctures in area of lateral fovea variable in size, some twice the size of others. Elytra convex, ovate, averaging about 1.6 mm wide by 2.3 mm long, sides arcuate, 7th interval with distinct tooth basally, making the humeri doubly dentate, elytral striae moderately wide and deep, deep punctures separated by four or five times their diameter, crenating inner margins of the moderately convex intervals, lateral intervals 7, 8, and 9 subcarinately convex, 10th flat and alutaceous, over apical fourth or less the interval becomes strongly convex to subcarinate, sometimes slightly eroded each side, intervals with some very minute punctures under high magnification. Mesosternum shagreened with fine, alutaceous sculpture and fine, short, decumbent setae, sharply carinate between coxae. Metasternum shining, midline deep, disc and halfway to sides with scattered, mixed fine to moderately coarse punctures, generally separated by one diameter or less, a fine, eroded curving line close around middle coxae, sides and metasternal triangle roughly scabriculate-alutaceous. Abdominal sterna frequently transversely convex, first visible sternum with posterior marginal line, remaining four sterna fluted along anterior margin, the fluting progressively longer posteriorly, those of 5th sternum half the total length, sterna quite closely punctate from side to side, punctures separated generally by one or two times their diameters, very moderate in size over anterior sterna and finer posteriorly, a little scabrous sculpture at extreme sides. Pygidium with narrow, smooth apical lip, disc scabrous. Anterior femora with perimarginal groove, narrowly smooth anteriorly, disc finely scabrous. Middle femora finely punctate near trochanter, gradually coarser, finely, minutely setigerous and closer outward, two or three longer setae at knee, posterior marginal line strong and complete. Hind femora with scattered, fine punctures, three or four coarse setigerous punctures at knee, posterior marginal line deep and entire. Posterior tibial fringe of six or seven short, close setae, a short accessory spine and an intervening seta between the spine and spurs. First posterior tarsal segment about one-fifth longer than the long spur, following three segments combined shorter than the long spur. Males have 4th abdominal sternum greatly shortened at middle to half the length of the preceding sternum, pygidium comparatively longer than in female.

LECTOTYPE (present designation).—Type No. 3611 in Horn Collection, Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Louisiana.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—260+.

DATES COLLECTED.—January 18 to October 2.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 11).—Alabama: Chickasaw, Langdale. Arkansas: “ Arkansas.” District of Columbia. Florida: Crescent City, Gainesville, Highlands, Jacksonville, Sopchoppy (Wachula County), Tall Timbers Research Station, Wilcox (Gilchrist County). Georgia: Athens, Atlanta, Currahee Mtn., Jekyll Island, Milner. Illinois: Grant City State Park, Herod. Kentucky: Natural Bridge. Louisiana: New Iberia. Maryland: Anne Arundel County (S. I. Java Farm), Flag Pond (3 mi S Kenwood Beach), Piney Point, Plummers Island, Takoma Park. Mississippi: Starkeville, Vicksburg. North Carolina: Highlands, Pisgah Forest, Raleigh, Southern Pines. South Carolina: Aiken, Allendale County, Anderson County, Bishopville, Blaney, Brook Green, Bulls Island, Cayce, Charleston, Chester, Clemson, Columbia, Combahee River (Beaufort County), Edgefield, Fairfax, Florence, Green Pond, Greenville, Hartsville, Jenkinsville, Kline, Liberty, Marion, North Augusta, Pickens County, Pinnacle Mtn., River Falls, St. Andrews Church, St. Matthews, Saluda County, Sandy Springs, Sassafras Mtn., Six Mile, Summerville, Tigerville, Union County, Yemassee. Tennessee: Athens (McMinn County). Texas: Avery, Dallas. Virginia: Belvoir (Fauquier County), Falls Church, Fort Monroe, Norfolk.

Ataenius ovatulus is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is found in North America.