The strigatus group of the New World species of Ataenius Harold is revised. Seventeen species are recognized including two species described as new: Ataenius ecruensis sp. nov. from the United States and A. oaxacaensis sp. nov. from Mexico. Fifteen previously used names are considered valid, three new synonyms are proposed: A. liogaster Bates (= A. edwardsi Chapin syn. nov. = A. hoguei Cartwright and Spangler syn. nov.), A. wenzelii Horn (= A. rudellus Fall, syn. nov.). New state records are presented for A. spretulus (Haldeman) (Washington) and A. cognatus (LeConte) (Indiana, Missouri, and Mississippi). The taxa are diagnosed, keyed and illustrated; available biological information and distribution data are given