Revision of the Australian Species of Ataenius Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Aphodiinae: Eupariini)

Abstract

The Australian species of Ataenius Harold are revised. In all, 55 species are described or redescribed, keyed and illustrated. The following new species (19) are recognised: A. annanus, Qld; A. benarabyensis, NSW, Qld;A. edungalbae, Qld; A. eringundae, SA; A. gammonensis, SA; A. gascoyneensis, WA;A. gilesi, WA; A. gungareei, NT; A. humptydooensis, NT, Qld; A. kapalgaensis, NT, Qld, WA; A. millstreamae, WA;A. murchisoni, NT, WA; A. peregianensis, Qld; A. pseudimparilis, Qld; A. seaforthensis, Qld; A. synnotensis, WA;A. tindalensis, NT, Qld; A. uriarrae, ACT, NSW;A. windjanae, WA. Fourteen species are synonymised: Ataenius inciderusPetrovitz (= spinipennis Lea), A. katherinei Petrovitz (= deserti Blackburn),A. laevifrons Lea and A. demarziPetrovitz [= semicoecus (Macleay)], A. molestus Petrovitz (= insularis Lea), A. moniliatus Blackburn (= palmerstoni Blackburn), A. similis Petrovitz (= freyiPetrovitz),A. taylori Petrovitz [= elongatulus (Macleay)], A. thoracicus Petrovitz and A. setipennis Petrovitz (= torridus Blackburn), A. tweedensis Blackburn [ = australasiae (Boheman)],A. vulpes Petrovitz (= microtrichopterus Lea), Saprosites australis Petrovitz (=A. nudus Blackburn), S. clypealis Lea (= A. peregrinator Harold).