The Costa Rican species of <i>Ateuchus</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

This paper is the result of a study of the genus Ateuchus Weber (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Costa Rica. Nine species are reported, of which six are new. The previously known species are: A. aeneomicans (Harold), A. candezei (Harold) and A. rodriguezi (Preudhomme de Borre). The new taxa are: A. fetteri (profemur with fine punctures, last abdominal segment rounded, apex oC elytra slightIy shagreened); A. ginae (Iast abdominal segment very convex and broad, pronotum and head finely punctured); A. hendrichsi (!ast abdominal segment very convex and broad, head and pronotum evidentIy punctured); A. howdeni (small, anterior pronotal margin complete, elytral striae not impressed at apex, pygidial margin incomplete or almost effaced); A. solisi (Iarge, anterior pronotal margin wealdy impressed, very broad pygidium); A. zoebischi (anterior pronotal margin incomplete, proepimeron coarsely punctured, pronotal disk slightIy to evidentIy shagreened). The male internal sac oC all species is illustrated, and the species distribution is mapped. An identification key is also presented. The nine species indicate that Costa Rica has a very rich Ateuchus fauna Cor its size. For cortiparison Mexico has twelve known species and the United States three.