Euparius paganus Gyllenhal

Janicki, Julia & Young, Daniel K., 2017, Nemonychidae and Anthribidae of Wisconsin (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea), Insecta Mundi 2017 (579), pp. 1-36 : 14

Euparius paganus Gyllenhal

( Fig. 17–18 )

Euparius paganus Gyllenhal 1833: 142 .

Description. Length 3.3–5.8mm (head excluded). Body elongate. Integument dark reddish - brown. Vestiture consisting of abundant, hair-like setae; setae on frons and rostrum light brown or white with a few light brown setae upper medially; setae on pronotum and elytra an intermix of light brown, dark brown and white, pronotal disc usually with two dark brown spots basal-laterally and one light brown patch basally; elytral disc with one large white patch anteriorly; interstriae with numerous patches. Rostrum prolonged, thick, thickness 0.2–0.3X rostral length. Frons convex, with prominent but weakly elevated median carina extending from epistomal margin to around middle of eyes. Eyes rounded, prominent. Antennae 11-segmented, distal three segments forming a conspicuous club. Pronotal width 1.1–1.2X length, widest basally; sides converging apically, emarginate basally; transverse carina basal, acute, lateral carina straight; pronotal hind angles rectangular with angles rounded off; disc convex, with medial and basal impressions, basal impression deep, median impression broad, weak, longitudinal; surface strongly punctate-reticulate, usually obscured by vestiture. Elytral length 1.6–1.7X width, broadly rounded apically; disc weakly impressed along suture and more distinctly impressed over declivity; striae with shallow, moderate to large punctures. Pygidium vertical, broadly rounded apically.

Diagnosis. Euparius paganus can be distinguished from E. marmoreus by the mesothoracic tibiae each having two narrow pale rings as opposed to one broad pale ring, pronotal hind angles rectangular with the angles rounded off, the straight lateral carina on the pronotum, rounder eyes, and by the smaller size: 3.3–5.8 mm (as opposed to 5.5–7.0 mm).

Natural history. For many years this species was considered a synonym of E. marmoreus . Valentine (1960) elevated it back to species level, noting the two species coexist over much of the eastern United States and occasionally are found in the same polypore fungi. Both species exhibit north-south geoclinal variation in their morphology, the greatest differences being between the northern E. marmoreus and the southern E. paganus , and the greatest similarity in the central range, with three suggested possible hybrid zones. Euparius paganus is a specialist associated with the polypore fungus Irpex lacteus . In Wisconsin, larvae were found inside of dead branches infested with I. lacteus , and adults were reared from these branches, emerging late April to May.

Phenology. In Wisconsin, adults have been collected April – August, with a peak May – July

Collecting methods. In Wisconsin, 50 specimens were examined during this study from 11 counties. This species is most commonly collected by beating dead branches of hardwood trees or dead logs that are infested with I. lacteus , or collected by hand by examining dead logs or branches that are infested with the same fungus. It has also been collected from flight-intercept traps, Malaise traps, light traps or simply at light, and one specimen was recorded from a Striacosta albivosta pheromone baited trap. Specifically, it has been collected by beating braches of fallen dead oak log infested with I. lacteus and by beating dead branches of black walnut infested with I. lacteus . A series of specimens was reared from infested dead oak branches that were collected in April; adults emerged in May and lived until August.

Figures

Figures 17–18. Euparius paganus Gyllenhal. 17) Habitus, lateral view. 18) Habitus, dorsal view. Figures 19–20. Piesocorynus mixtus LeConte. 19) Habitus, lateral view. 20) Habitus, dorsal view.