Larvae of Ataenius (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Aphodiinae): Generic characteristics and species descriptions

We compared the larval morphology of the genera Ataenius and Aphodius. The third larval instars of five Ataenius species: Ataenius opatrinus Harold, A . picinus Harold, A. platenis (Blanchard), A. simulator Harold and A. strig icauda Bates, are described or redescribed and illustrated. The most import ant morphological characteristics of the larvae of Ataenius are found in th e respiratory plate of thoracic spiracle, the setation of venter of the las t abdominal segment, the setation of the epicranial region and the morpholo gy of the epipharynx. A key to larvae of the known species of Ataenius is i ncluded.