EN
The strigicauda-group of the six New World species of Ataenius HAROLD is revised. A lectotype of Ataenius vexator HAROLD is here designated, the following new synonyms are proposed: Ataenius columbicus HAROLD, 1880 (= A. tesari BALTHASAR, 1947, syn. n.); A. heinekeni WOLLASTON, 1854 [(= A. rhyticephalus (CHEVROLAT, 1864) syn. n., = A. vexator HAROLD, 1869, syn. n.] and A. strigicauda BATES, 1887 (= A. aspericollis PETROVITZ, 1973, syn. n.). The taxonomic history of the species-complex, diagnostic characters and key are provided, available biological information and distribution data are given.