Parataenius, Balthasar, 1961

Stebnicka, Z. Teresa & Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Taxonomic redefinition of the genera Parataenius Balthasar and Pseudataenius Brown, with descriptions of three new species (Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), Insecta Mundi 2009 (66), pp. 1-18 : 2

Genus PARATAENIUS Balthasar

Parataenius Balthasar 1961: 121 – Dellacasa 1988: 271 (catalogue); Chalumeau 1992: 190-191; Stebnicka and Howden 1996: 139-140; Stebnicka 2001: 25-26; Smith and Skelley 2007: 39.

Type species: Parataenius mirabilis Balthasar [= Aphodius derbesis Solier ], by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Length 3.5-6.0 mm. Body convex, robust, glabrous above; color rusty brown, dark brown to black. Head moderate in size, weakly gibbose at middle, clypeal margin obtuse or subangulate on each side of median emargination, surface usually transversely granulate-rugulose. Pronotum convex, sides and base margined, lateral edge finely crenate, fringed with pale setae. Scutellum triangular. Elytra convex, arcuate or subparallel-sided, striae impressed, punctate. Ventral surface usually with pale setae; mesosternum and metasternum nearly equal in length; abdominal sternites with minute fluting or without fluting along sutures, disc of pygidium usually weakly eroded with scarce setae. Legs moderate in length; meso- and metatibiae relatively robust, more or less dilated apically; apex of metatibia with fringe of short setae, apical spurs slender or slightly flattened, sinuate; basitarsomere of metatarsus usually arcuate. External sexual differences slight, usually disc of pygidium in male longer than in female, and exceptionally, apical spur of protibia in male hooked inwardly at the tip. Male genitalia small, lightly sclerotized.

Remarks. Parataenius is most similar to the Australian euparine genus Australammoecius Petrovitz ( Stebnicka and Howden 1996), and to some Neotropical genera of Psammodiini ( Verdú et al. 2005). The genus is most diverse in the Patagonian region of southern South America.

Distribution. Southeastern United States and Neotropical Region; introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Europe ( Portugal).