Species Ataenius inquisitus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Ataenius inquisitus Horn - Ataenius inquisitus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Aphodiinae (Aphodiine Dung Beetles)

Tribe Eupariini

Genus Ataenius

Species inquisitus (Ataenius inquisitus)

Explanation of Names

Ataenius inquisitus Horn, 1887

Size

3.9 to 4.9 mm (1)

Identification

Final Cartwright (1974) couplet:

Abdominal sterna coarsely punctate at middle; metasternum with an irregular series of coarse punctures extending inward from sides to the central flattened area; posterior tibia with fringe of five setae, accessory spine strongly developed; 4.5 mm or less. (Texas). (1)

The pattern of punctures on the head, pronotum, and metasternum and the lack of a fringe seta between the accessory spine and spurs separate this species from related species in the United States. (1)

Range

w. to c. TX (plus 1 record se AZ) / Mex. - Map (1)(2)

Season

Apr-Nov (1)

Remarks

commonly coll'ed via pitfall traps at Laguna Atascosa NWR, Rio Hondo, Cameron Co., TX (3)

Print References

Horn, G.H. 1887. A monograph of the Aphodiini inhabiting the United States. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 14: 1-110.

Townsend, C.H.T. 1902. Contribution to a knowledge of the coleopterous fauna of the lower Rio Grande valley in Texas and Tamaulipas, the biological notes and special reference to geological distribution. Trans. Texas Acad. Sci. 5: 49-101. Full Text

Internet References

Type - MCZ, Harvard

Works Cited

1.	Ataenius, Aphotaenius, and Pseudataenius of the United States and Canada (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) Oscar L. Cartwright. 1974. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, No. 154.

2.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

3.	Beetle biodiversity response to vegetation restoration of mid-valley riparian woodland in the LRGV of southern Texas. King, J.E. 2015. Unpublished master's thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station. viii + 218 pp.

Contributed by Mike Quinn on 23 September, 2009 - 5:26pm
Additional contributions by v belov
Last updated 25 May, 2019 - 7:47am

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