Laemophloeus fasciatus Melsheimer

Thomas, Michael C., 2015, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 3. Nearctic species, Insecta Mundi 2015 (450), pp. 1-35 : 8-9

Laemophloeus fasciatus Melsheimer

Fig. 7 , 10, 25-28

Laemophloeus fasciatus Melsheimer, 1844:113

Types: There is no labeled type of L. fasciatus in the MZC, which is where Melsheimer’s types were deposited ( Hagen 1884). It is known that the labels of many specimens in the MCZ were removed in the mid 19 th Century and destroyed ( Hagen 1884). There is a single specimen ( Fig. 26 ) in the MCZ Melsheimer collection which may be the type of this species. It bears the following labels: “Melsh.”/ [scrap of red paper] / ”fasciatus”. Phillip Perkins (in litt.) wrote that the origins of the red paper and the identification label are unknown. The specimen, which is a male, appears to be conspecific with the historical concept of L. fasciatus , although it is larger and the male characters are more pronounced than in most specimens. In view of the uncertainty surrounding this specimen, I hesitate in accepting it as the holotype of L. fasciatus .

Diagnosis. The combination of apparently glabrous dorsal surface ( Fig. 10); coloration usually reddishtestaceous with piceous or black elytra each with a pale, rectangular macula covering all three cells basally, is characteristic for this species. The pronotum and head may be more or less infuscate. Individuals of L. megacephalus with the variant color pattern may be superficially similar, but the maculae are situated a little more basally than in L. fasciatus (compare Fig. 2 with Fig. 7 ) and the males of L. megacephalus possess a tuft of hairs on the dorsal surface of the scape ( Fig. 39 ), which is lacking in males of L. fasciatus . The male genitalia of L. fasciatus ( Fig.27-28 ) and L. megacephalus ( Fig. 37-38 ) are quite similar in that both have the parameres with basal primary setae widely separated and lateral primary setae situated at about the midpoint laterally; the basal plates of L. fasciatus are a little narrower than in L. megacephalus . Length, 2.1mm - 3.1mm.

Distribution. Eastern North America from Ontario to Florida and west to Texas.

Specimens examined. 330 from the following collections: FSCA, TAMU, UGAC.

CANADA: ONTARIO: Essex Co.: Tilbury; Wheatley.

USA: ALABAMA: Jefferson Co.: Rocky Ridge ; Vestavia; Walker Co.: Jasper ; DELAWARE: Kent Co.:. 5mi. N Dinahs Corner ; New Castle Co.: Centerville, Flint Woods Preserve ; Newark; FLORIDA: “Osceola N. F.” [spans more than one county]; Alachua Co.: [county only] ; Gainesville; Dade Co. Miami ; Highlands Co.: Highlands Hammock State Park ; Sebring Airport; Liberty Co.: Appalachicola Bluffs & Ravines Preserve ; Torreya State Park ; Marion Co.: Ocala ; Okaloosa Co.: 4.5mi. N Holt ; Santa Rosa Co.: 1mi. N Holley on SR 87 ; Sarasota Co.: Englewood ; Suwanee Co.: Suwanee Riv. at SR 249 ; GEORGIA: Clarke Co.: 1mi. N Athens ; nr. Memorial Park; Emanuel Co.: [county only] ; Meriwether Co.: Greenville ; ILLINOIS: Macon Co.: NW side of Decatur ; W side of Decatur; Union Co.: Pine Hills Recreation Area ; Walker Co.: Lookout Mountain ; INDIANA: Allen Co.: New Haven ; Marion Co.: Indianapolis ; Monroe Co.: Bloomington ; Tippecanoe Co.: [county only] ; Lafayette; W Lafayette, McCormick Woods; KENTUCKY: Knox Co.: Barbourville ; LOUISIANA: “Kisatchie N. F.” (spans more than one parish); Baton Rouge Par.: Baton Rouge; East Baton Rouge Par. : Baton Rouge, Place DuPlantier ; Webster Par,: Lake Bistineau St. Pk .; MAINE: Washington Co.: Princeton;

MARYLAND: Anne Arundel Co.: Friendship; Baltimore Co.: Butler; Montgomery Co.: 3mi. S Colesville; Takoma Park; Queen Anne’s Co.: Wye Island National Wildlife Refuge; Somerset Co.: Shelltown; MICHIGAN: Wayne Co.: Redord Township; MISSOURI: Barry Co.: Roaring River State Park; Boone Co.: Ashland; Columbia; Crawford Co.: 12mi. E Steelville; Jackson Co.: Raytown; NEW HAMPSHIRE: Carroll Co.: Ossippee; Strafford Co.: Durham; NEW JERSEY: Essex Co.: Belleville; Millburn; Union Co.: Plainfield; NEW YORK: Bronx Co.: New York Botanical Garden; Tompkins Co.: Ithaca; NORTH CAROLINA: Macon Co.: Coweeta Hydrolog. Lab.; Wake Co.: [county only];

OHIO: Champaign Co.: Cedar Swamp ; Coshocton Co.: Cavallo ; Delaw Co.: [county only] ; Summit Co.: Akron ; OKLAHOMA: Grady Co.: Tuttle ; Latimer Co.: 5mi. W Red Oak ; [county only]; PENN- SYLVANIA: Franklin Co.: 28mi. NW Gettysburg ; Lancaster Co.: Lancaster vic ,; SOUTH CARO- LINA: Pickens Co. : Calhoun, Clemson; Anderson Co.: Oak Ridge ; TEXAS: Brazos Co. College Station ; Fort Bend Co.: Brazos Bend St. Pk .; Robertson Co.: 5mi. SW Hearne ; Sabine Co.: 9mi. E Hemphill , “Beech Bottom” ; Mill Creek Cove, “Beech Bottom,” 8.8mi. NE Hemphill ; Wood Co.: Godwin Woods , 3.5mi. SW Hainsville ; VIRGINIA: Campbell Co.: nr. Leesville Lake .

Discussion. This is the second most commonly collected species of Laemophloeus in the eastern U.S. Its lack of dorsal pubescence, lack of a setal patch on the parameres, and widely separated basal primary setae suggest it is more closely related to L. megacephalus than to the members of the biguttatus group.

Figures

Figures 1-7. Variation in Laemophloeus elytral fasciae. 1-2) L. megacephalus. 3-4) L. biguttatus. 5-6) L. fervidus (5, Arkansas; 6, paratype of L. woodruffi, Florida). 7) L. fasciatus.

Figures 25-28. Laemophloeus fasciatus. 25) Head and pronotum. 26) Habitus, supposed Melsheimer specimen. 27) Aedeagus. 28) Parameres.

Figures 36-39. Laemophloeus megacephalus, male. 36) Head and pronotum. 37) Aedeagus.38) Parameres. 39) Antennal scape.