Ataenius gracilis (Melsheimer 1845)

Ataenius gracilis (Melsheimer)

Oxyomus gracilis Melsheimer, 1844:137.

Aphodius chilensis Solier, 1851:72.

Ataenius gracifis.—Harold, 1867a:281.—Horn, 1887:79.—Arrow, 1903:513.—Schmidt, 1922:436.—Chapin, 1940:25.

DESCRIPTION.—Length 2.8 to 3.5 mm; width 1.0 to 1.3 mm. Elongate, parallel, only weakly convex, moderately shining; piceus; legs, anterior margin of clypeus, and pronotum frequently reddish. Head weakly convex, margin of clypeus rounded each side of moderate emargination, sides straight to somewhat depressed, nearly right-angled genae, edge very finely reflexed; surface slightly concave and rough with close, round, fine, shallow punctures immediately behind median anterior emargination, the round punctures extending up to greatest convexity of clypeus, elsewhere with close elongate punctures or lines of three or four combined punctures, the lines in some specimens having a tendency basally to curve slightly around the greatest convexity and appear diagonal in direction. Above the clypeal frontal suture, which can be traced easily, the punctures are larger, elongate but shorter, and even more dense, and are round and smaller in front of the eyes. Pronotum nearly quadrate, a typical specimen measures 1.1 mm wide and 0.9 mm long, with the elytra 2.0 mm in length. Base of pronotum arcuate, sides nearly straight, anterior angles obtusely rounded, posterior angles very broadly rounded from sides into base, sides and base finely margined, apparently entire without marginal setae but under high magnification appear very minutely crenate-fimbriate, the setae about as broad as long and widely separated; surface everywhere densely punctate, the punctures moderate in size, very slightly smaller and closer toward the sides; slightly depressed in anterior angles and two foveae are vaguely discernible each side. Elytra finely dentate at shoulders, striae moderately deep, strial punctures as wide as striae, slightly crenating edges of the intervals; intervals medially carinately convex, the inner side slightly concave and alutaceous, the outside slope similar but with a row of very fine punctures near vertex of carina, laterally the punctures are median and break the carina, otherwise all intervals are about the same. The shouders show numerous very moderate punctures. Mesosternum broadly carinate between the coxae. Metasternum shining, midline long, deep, and strong, disc with numerous, close, moderate punctures separated generally by one diameter or less, fine to very fine posteriorly, finely scabrous laterally, metasternal triangle conspicuous, the finely scabrous area within uniting with the similar lateral sculpture. Abdominal sterna finely Huted along anterior margin and with a bordering row of very close punctures along posterior margin, otherwise with dense, very moderate punctures generally separated by their own diameters or less, at extreme sides the punctures frequently become larger, shallower, alutaceous within and even run together, punctures of 5th sternum are noticeably finer. Pygidium, over apical half at least, convex, densely and finely punctate, eroded concave area frequently reduced to a basal line. Anterior femora with perimarginal groove, punctate everywhere, punctures very moderate in size, generally separated by their own diameters, some uniting in short diagonal lines. Middle and hind femora with fine, uniformly distributed punctures separated by about twice their diameters. Posterior femoral line complete on middle femora, about half femoral length on posterior femora. Posterior tibia without accessory spine, apical fringe of seven short, close, uniform setae and three longer setae at outer angle; first tarsal segment longer than long spur, and longer than following three segments combined. As is generally the case, the 5th abdominal sternum is much shorter than the preceding sternum, usually about half as long, and the pygidium is longer than in the female.

● stephani picinus ○ brevis □ sciurus

TYPE.—In Museum of Comparative Zoology.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—“Pennsylvania.”

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—450+.

DATES COLLECTED.—January 19 to December 20.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 19).—Alabama: Birmingham, Mobile, Selma. Arkansas: Monte Ne Br. (Benton County), Washington County. Connecticut: Cromwell. South Dakota: Elk Point. Delaware: Bridgeville, Laurel, Newark, Ship John Light House. District of Columbia: near Riverdale. Florida: Archbold Biological Station, Avon Park, Coconut Grove, Crescent City, Dade County, Dunedin, Gainesville, Gold Head Beach, Highlands State Park, Hillsborough County, Homestead, Kissimmee, Lake Letta, Lake Placid, Manatee Springs State Park, Marion County, Miami, Myakka City, Ocala, Oneco, Palm Beach County, Putnam County, Sarasota, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tampa, Winter Haven, Winter Park. Georgia: Atlanta, Beachton, Emory University. Heards Pond (Thomas County), Milner, Newton, Okefenokee Swamp, Savannah, Ware County, Waycross. Illinois: Carbondale, Dongola, Evanston, Heyworth, La Grange, Starved Rock State Park, Urbana. Indiana: Grantsburg, Hovey Lake, Indianapolis, Knox County, Miller, Putnam County, Starke County, Vermillion County. Iowa: Atwood, Des Moines, Iowa City, Mount Pleasant. Kansas: Argentine, Douglas County, Lawrence, Osage, Topeka, Wellington. Kentucky: Anchorage (Jefferson County), Barbourville, Cazier, Henderson, Louisville. Louisiana: Covington, Gueydan, New Orleans, Raceland, Sam Houston State Park, Tallulah. Maryland: Baltimore, Bladensburg, Chesapeake Beach, Cobb Island, College Park, Hancock, Hebbville, Marlboro, Marshall Hall, Plummers Island, Reisterstown, Takoma Park, Upper Marlboro. Michigan: Detroit, Galien, George Reserve, Gold Lodge, Paw Paw. Mississippi: Biloxi, Gulfport, Vicksburg. Missouri: St. Louis, Stanton. Nebraska: Brown County, Lincoln, Plattsmouth. New Jersey: Avenel, Brown Mill, Clifton, Collingswood, Emerson, Gloucester, Great Peace Meadow, Hillsdale, Lakaway, Lakehurst, Medford, New Lisbon, Ocean City, Prospertown, Riverdale, Sea Island City, Troy Hills, West Creek, Westville, Wildwood, Woodbury. New York: Catskill Mts., Ithaca, Peekskill. North Carolina: Bryson City, Hot Springs (French Broad River), Raleigh, Robeson County, Tryon, Valley of Black Mountains. Ohio: Adams County, Cleveland, Washington County. Oklahoma: Lake Texhoma (Willis), Marshall County. Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Boyertown, Philadelphia Neck, Pittsburgh, Tinicum. South Carolina: Aiken State Park, Bennettsville, Charleston, Clemson, Colleton County, Columbia, Earls Ford, Fish Hatchery (Oconee County), Florence, Gramling, Pickens, Poinsett State Park, Summerville, Walterboro. Tennessee: Benton County, Dyersburg, Knoxville, Memphis, Reelfoot Lake. Texas: Atlanta, Brownsville, College Station, Limpia Creek Canyon (Davis Mts.), Waring. Virginia: Arlington, Camp Pickett, Mount Vernon, Nelson County, Norfolk. West Virginia: Kanawa, White Sulphur. Wisconsin: Nekoosa (Wood County). Canada: Quebec: Barthierville, Granby, Joliette, La Trappe, Rigaud. Ontario: Ottawa.

Ataenius gracilis (Melsheimer)

Oxyomus gracilis Melsheimer, 1845:137.

Ataenius gracilis (Melsheimer).—Harold, 1867b:281.

Aphodius chilensis Solier, 1851:72.

Ataenius chilensis (Solier).—Harold, 1967b:281.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Pennsylvania.

LOCATION OF TYPE.—Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—10.

DATES COLLECTED.—Feb, Mar, Apr, Aug, Sep.

DOMINICAN DISTRIBUTION.—Roseau, Clarke Hall, La Plaine.

PREVIOUSLY RECORDED DISTRIBUTION.—Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, United States.

Ataenius gracilis is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Europe.