Ataenius wenzelii Horn

Ataenius wenzelii Horn

Ataenius wenzelii Horn, 1887:77.—Robinson, 1947:150.—Cartwright, 1948:150.

Ataenius ludovicianus Fall, 1930:100.—Cartwright, 1948:150.

DESCRIPTION.—Length 4.2 to 5.5 mm; width 1.9 to 2.3 mm. Elongate-oblong, moderately convex, dull to moderately shining, black, edge of clypeus and legs reddish. Head convex, margin of clypeus finely reflexed, broadly, evenly rounded each side of shallow to moderate median emargination, sides usually slightly arcuate to right-angled genae; surface anteriorly transversely weakly wrinkled, median convexity and above finely punctate, the punctures separated by their diameters generally, front with transverse band of close, moderate punctures with a few scattered, fine punctures intermixed. Pronotum approximately two-thirds as long as wide, anterior angles obtuse, sides very broadly, evenly rounded into base, sides and base arcuate, strongly margined, the edges fimbriate-crenate, the crenations scarcely visible, the setae moderately short, not very conspicuous, separated generally by about their lengths; surface densely punctate with mixed fine and moderately coarse punctures, the coarse punctures a little closer toward anterior and posterior angles. Elytra three-fourths as wide as long, humeri sharply dentate, sides weakly arcuate, striae fine, moderately deep, strial punctures slightly crenating the flat to very weakly convex, usually strongly alutaceous intervals, apical declivity and lateral intervals more noticeably convex, surface of intervals with scattered, minute punctures more or less in lateral rows also. Mesosternum shagreened as usual, carinate between the coxae. Metasternum smooth, shining, midline strong, disc anteriorly minutely punctate to finely punctate posteriorly in the male (only slight difference in female), smooth outward to the small scabrous area at extreme sides, metasternal triangle usually smooth and shining. First visible abdominal sternum with fine posterior marginal line, remaining four sterna with progressively longer fluting along anterior margin, a little longer at sides on middle sterna, longer at middle on 5th sternum, sterna punctate from side to side, punctures very fine at middle to very moderate and closer at sides. Pygidium longer in male, apical lip convex, shining, minutely punctate, disc eroded, very finely scabrous. Anterior femora with perimarginal groove, surface shining, some scattered, minute to fine punctures, anterior spur of male strongly bent inward apically. Middle and hind femora smooth, shining, with scattered, very minute punctures and two or three coarse, finely setigerous punctures at knee; fine posterior marginal line along outer half best seen from behind. Posterior tibial apical fringe of five, sometimes six, setae, a short, triangular accessory spine and an intervening seta between spine and spurs. The relative length of the long spur, first tarsal segment, and following three segments of the posterior tarsus combined slightly variable but generally about equal in length.

HOLOTYPE.—Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, No. 3610.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Atlantic City, New Jersey.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—100+.

DATES COLLECTED.—March 2 to October 23.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 23).—Alabama: Mobile. Arkansas: Hope. Florida: Wewahitchka. Iowa: Guttenberg. Louisiana: Alexandria, Gueydan, New Orleans. Maryland: Cambridge (10 mi S), Plum Point. Mississippi: Gulfport, Horn Island, Ocean City. New Jersey: Anglesea, Atlantic City, Beesleys Point, Brigantine, Sea Island City. North Carolina: Swan Quarter. Oklahoma: Willis. Pennsylvania: Pocono Lake. South Carolina: Charleston. Texas: Anderson County, Brazos, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Houston, La Marque (Galveston County), Whitesboro. Virginia: Norfolk, Virginia Beach.