Ataenius brevicollis (Wollaston 1854)

Ataenius brevicollis (Wollaston)

Oxyomus brevicollis Wollaston, 1854:229.

Ataenius brevicollis.—Harold, in Gemminger and Harold, 1869:1066.

Auperia sulcatula Chevrolat, 1864:413. [New synonymy.]

Ataenius sulcatula.—Harold, in Gemminger and Harold, 1869:1067.—Schmidt, 1922:459.

Ataenius sulcatulus.—Chapin, 1940:41 [not Chevrolat, 1864: 413].

Ataenius frankenbergeri Balthasar, 1938:56.—Cartwright, 1968:27. [New synonymy.]

DESCRIPTION.—Length 3.6 to 4.5 mm; width 1.6 to 1.9 mm. Piceous or black, shining, oblong, convex, sides of pronotum and elytra not visible from directly above. Head convex; clypeus slightly angulate each side of moderate median anterior emargination, sides arcuate to inconspicuous, slightly more than right-angled genae, edge finely reflexed, concave, smooth, very minutely punctate back of emargination, surface elsewhere very finely punctate with the punctures separated by about twice their diameters, front with band of very moderate punctures, generally separated by less than their diameters, which are smaller anteriorly and blend smoothly with upper clypeal punctures, those of posterior edge about equal in size to those of pronotum. Pronotum convex, about one-third wider than long, base somewhat angularly arcuate, anterior angles obtusely rounded, sides slightly arcuate in front, shallowly emarginate before the rounded posterior angles, sides and base strongly margined, crenate-fimbriate, the setae short, separated by more than their length; surface moderately coarsely punctate throughout, slightly smaller in front, punctures rather evenly distributed but more irregularly so and less close over middle where they may be separated by one to four diameters, usually by about their diameters over lateral third. Elytra convex, slightly more than twice as long as wide, humeri weakly dentate, striae deep and strong, strial punctures deep, separated by about four times their diameters, crenating inner side of slightly convex intervals, the intervals minutely punctate, some scattered but mostly in rows along margins; over the apical declivity the striae become much wider, the intervals become strongly carinate with margins eroded; laterally the intervals become more convex and the rows of punctures more distinct and noticeable, the 10th interval alutaceous and nearly flat, the punctures apically and laterally are minutely setigerous. Mesosternum carinate between the coxae. Metasternum with strong, deep midline, disc with numerous mixed minute and very fine punctures, increasingly roughly, closely punctate outward to scabrous surface at sides, metasternal triangle finely scabrous within. Abdominal sterna finely fluted along anterior margin, deeper posteriorly, the fluting of the 5th sternum much deeper and at middle half as long as the sternum, all sterna quite coarsely, closely punctate, punctures generally separated by their diameters, slightly closer and coarser at sides, punctures of 5th sternum noticeably finer. Pygidium deeply, roughly eroded; apical lip convex, shining, very finely, closely punctate. Male pygidium relatively longer than in female. Anterior femora with deep perimarginal groove, surface roughly punctate, finer in front, coarser, closer and united in close diagonal lines posteriorly. Middle femora with scattered, elongate, finely setigerous, moderate to coarse punctures separated by one to three diameters, slightly larger outward to knee, three strong setae at knee, posterior marginal line deep and complete. Posterior femora with relatively few fine to moderate punctures, a row of coarse punctures along anterior edge, three or four coarse, setigerous punctures at the knee, the posterior femoral line deep, inward one-third or more from the knee and usually continued on by disconnected elongate segments or punctures toward coxae. Posterior tibial fringe of six setae, accessory spine of same length and an intervening seta between spine and spurs. First segment of posterior tarsus longer than long spur, subequal to following four segments combined.

HOLOTYPE.—In British Museum (Natural History).

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Madeira Islands.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—26.

DATES COLLECTED.—March 18 to June 7.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 3).—Florida: Dade County, Key Largo, New Smyrna. Mississippi: Gulfport. Texas: Brazos.