Ataenius ovatulus
Horn, 1871
Ataenius ovatulus is a small aphodiine described by Horn in 1871. It is to the eastern and central United States, where it inhabits grassland and turfgrass environments. The is part of a whose members are frequently associated with soil and thatch layers in managed grass systems.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ataenius ovatulus: //əˈtiːniəs oʊˈvætʃʊləs//
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Habitat
Found in grassland and turfgrass environments, particularly in the soil and thatch layers near the ground surface. Has been documented in bermudagrass and other warm-season turfgrass systems.
Distribution
Eastern and central United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Similar Taxa
- Ataenius spretulusA closely related congeneric also associated with turfgrass; A. spretulus are known root pests in golf course settings. Distinct from A. ovatulus in distribution and specific associations, though detailed comparative is not documented in available sources.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Classified in the tribe Eupariini within . The Ataenius contains numerous small , many of which are poorly characterized biologically.