Ataenius hesperius Cartwright 1974

Ataenius hesperius

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype Male: Length 3.9 mm; width 1.6 mm. Piceous, elongate, parallel, moderately convex, shining; anterior pronotal angles, margins of head, and legs dark reddish brown. Head convex; clypeus anteriorly broadly, moderately emarginate between small, sharp teeth, anterior fourth of clypeus strongly shining, granulate-rugose, median convexity smooth, actually extremely minutely punctate under high magnification, the punctures upward gradually more noticeable and slightly increasing in size but still fine and dense across the occiput where they are separated by about their own diameters; margin of clypeus finely reflexed, sides weakly arcuate, genae not prominent, nearly right-angled. Pronotum 1.0 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, approximately quadrate viewed from directly above, viewed laterally sides arcuate to very obtuse, rounded posterior angles, sides and base margined, the edge apparently entire but under high magnification actually minutely crenate and fimbriate with very fine, short, widely spaced setae; surface everywhere evenly, densely, moderately punctate, narrowly finer along middle anterior margin, punctures generally separated by less than their diameter on disc, closer in anterior angles. Elytra 2.6 mm long and 1.6 mm wide, smooth, shining, humeri finely dentate, striae moderately deep, crenate-punctate, the crenations cutting the inner margins of the slightly convex intervals, a row of fine punctures along outside of intervals, lateral intervals, especially last two, somewhat roughened by strial crenations and more medially placed row of punctures, humeri also roughened, sutural interval with median row of close, fine punctures which become much closer at apex. Mesosternum shagreened, with moderately dense, short, decumbent hair; strongly carinate between the coxae. Metasternum with strong deep midline; flat discal area with scattered, fine punctures, finer posteriorly, separated by two times their diameters or more, punctures gradually larger outward to scabriculate area at sides, metasternal triangle moderate and scabriculate within. Abdominal sterna closely punctate, the punctures moderate and separated by about their diameter at middle, gradually becoming slightly larger outward to sides, sterna finely, closely fluted along anterior margin. Suture deep between 4th and 5th sterna, not noticeably suddenly wider at middle but from side to side gradually wider to middle then decreasing to opposite side. Pygidium eroded medially, posterior or apical edge finely punctate. Anterior femora with perimarginal groove, surface finely to moderately punctate, punctures closer and more numerous over posterior half. Middle femora with scattered, very fine punctures, postfemoral line about two-fifths total femoral length. Posterior femora similarly punctate, posterior femoral line very short at knee, less than width of femur at knee; tibiae without accessory spine, eight fimbriae in terminal fringe; first tarsal segment slightly shorter than long spur, about equal in length to following three segments combined.

Allotype Female: Very similar to the holotype male except that its pygidium is not as long, the 4th sternum is not as short at middle, and the 5th sternum is longer.

HOLOTYPE.—USNM 71757.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Arizona: Huachuca Mts., Sunnyside Canyon, 8 August 1970, K. Stephan.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—153.

DATES COLLECTED.—February 17 to October 26.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 17).—Paratypes. Arizona (85): “Arizona” (1), no date, Morrison (Hubbard and Schwarz Coll.). Chiricahua Mountains (12): 20 July 1953, 2 July, D. J. and J. N. Knull (6, Cartwright Coll., USNM); 26 July 1952, 13, 22 July 1953, D. J. and J. N. Knull (4, Cartwright Coll.); 2, 4 July, Hubbard and Schwarz (2, USNM). Fort Grant (1), 12 July, Hubbard and Schwarz. Fort Yuma (1), 27 June, Hubbard and Schwarz (USNM). Huachuca Mountains (13): Sunnyside Canyon (6, includes allotype), 8 August 1970, K. Stephan Coll.; no other data (7, Brooklyn Museum Coll.). Oak Creek (10), 12 July 1937, W. F. Turner, C-2586. Pajarito Mountains, Pena Blanca Canyon (16), 11, 28 July 1970, K. Stephan Coll. Patagonia (5): 5 July 1936, M. Cazier (4); 21 August 1940, F. W. Nunenmacker (1, Cartwright Coll., USNM). Pinal Mountains (2), no date (Wickham Coll., USNM). Portal, Southwest Research Station (5): 15 July 1961, B. Benesh (2); 13 August 1951, R. H. Arnett (2); 5400 ft, 1–3 July 1956, O. L. Cartwright (1). St. Johns, Apache County (1), at light, 29 July 1959, R. S. Beal. Santa Catalina Mountains (9): Bear Canyon (2), 6 August 1970, K. Stephan Coll.; Molino Canyon (6), 23 June, 10 July 1968, 26 June, 26 August 1969, 2 July 1970, K. Stephan Coll.; Sabino Canyon (1), lights, 30 July 1954, F. G. Werner. Santa Rita Mountains (18): Madera Canyon (9): 24 July 1968, 6 August 1970, K. Stephan (3); 27–28 August 1952, B. Malkin and W. J. Tilden (6). California (41): Fresno (2), 8, 26 May, E. A. Schwarz. Independence (2), 17 July, Wickham (Wickham Coll., USNM). Lone Pine (1), no other data. Los Angeles County (6): no date (4, Coquillet Coll., USNM); July, A. Koebele (1); “Ulke 62” (1, Wickham Coll., USNM). Napa (3), no date (M. Robinson Coll., USNM). Palm Springs (3): “15 J,” Hubbard and Schwarz (1); 27 August, no other data (1); 2 October, Hubbard and Schwarz (1). Pasadena (6): 17 August, no other data (4); 7 April 1877 (2, Los Angeles County Museum). San Bernardino County (10): no date, Coquillet (8); no other data (2). San Diego (5), no date, G. H. Field (Chittenden Coll., USNM). Santa Rosa Mountains (2), 5, 25 June 1946, D. J. and J. N. Knull (Cartwright Coll., USNM). Sunol (5 mi S), Alameda County (1), no other data. Colorado (1): Canon City, 16 April (Soltau Coll., USNM). Kansas (1): Seneca, 11 July 1964, K. Stephan. Louisiana (3): Montgomery (1); 26 October 1892 (H. Soltau Coll., USNM). New Orleans (2), no date, “Shufeldt from USDA.” Nebraska (1): Lincoln, 5 May (H. Soltau Coll., USNM). New Mexico (5): Aztec (3), 28 July 1895, gift of C. T. Brues (Cartwright Coll., USNM). City of Rocks State Park (1), 17 July 1959, K. V. Krombien. Las Vegas (1), 12 August (Barber and Schwarz Coll., USNM). Oklahoma (3): Ardmore, 5 April 1908, “Hunter No. 1486,” C. R. Jones. South Dakota (1): Spearfish, light trap, 16 July 1944, H. C. Severin (Cartwright Coll., USNM). Texas (11): “Texas,” no date (1, C. V. Riley Coll., USNM). Austin (1), 29 June, H. Soltau. Columbus (3): “Horn dupl. No. 62, 1892” (1 Wickham Coll., USNM); 22 May, C. V. Riley (1); 20 June, Hubbard and Schwarz (1). Dallas (1), at light, “Hunter No. 318,” F. C. Bishopp. Sabrinal (1), 7 September 1910, F. C. Pratt. San Diego (2), 25 May (Hubbard and Schwarz Coll., USNM). Victoria (1), 31 March, E. A. Schwarz. Wolfe City (1), 17 February 1908, “Hunter No. 1465,” C. R. Jones.

Ataenius hesperius is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is found in North America. It is closely related to Ataenius texanus, but it tends to live farther West.