Chariessa pilosa (Forster, 1771)

Chapman, Eric G., Leavengood, John M. & Dupuis, Julian R., 2025, The Cleridae and Thanerocleridae of eastern North America, with illustrated keys, updated distributions, and special emphasis on the Kentucky fauna, Zootaxa 5639 (1), pp. 1-88 : 33

Chariessa pilosa (Forster, 1771) ; Cleridae : Korynetinae (no tribal assignment)

Illustrations: Plate 1-D. Key to clerid genera, couplet 2-B, couplet 3-C, F, couplet 5-C, couplet 7-B, D, couplet 8-A, B; Chariessa key, couplet 1-A

Distribution: Transcontinental: CA to BC to PQ to south FL.

- Recorded from: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM*, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV, WI, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan ( Wolcott 1909, 1947; Bøving & Champlain 1920; Knull 1951; Papp 1960; Barr 1975; Gosling 1980; Downie & Arnett 1996; Opitz 2017; BugGuide). *Opitz’ (2017) New Mexico distribution is based on a single dubious record suspected as a misidentification. New Mexico was also omitted from Opitz’ (2017) distribution map for C. pilosa , perhaps because this was realized as a misidentification and not subsequently removed/corrected from the Specimens Examined during the preparation of Opitz’ manuscript.

Kentucky counties (Map 1): Bell (1), Breathitt (1), Fayette (12), Henderson (1), Jefferson (2), Madison (10), Meade (1), Owen (1), nr (4). Kentucky specimens are from localities scattered across the eastern 2/3 of the state.

Years: 1900 (6), 1936 (1), 1938 (1), 1966 (1), 1967 (1), 1970 (2), 1972 (1), 1975 (1), 1978 (1), 1980 (1), 2000 (1), 2009 (1), 2010 (7), 2012 (1), 2013 (1), 2021 (2), nr (4)

Months: May (7), June (16), July (5), August (1), nr (4)

Collections (33): CEWC (1), CHAS (4), EGC-CRC (7), JMLC (3), UKIC (18)

Collection methods: Lindgren funnel trap (2), Malaise trap (4), bait trap (1), blacklight (1), net (2), reared (5)

Natural History: Bøving & Champlain (1920) reported it as a predator of the weevil Magdalis olyra (Herbst) and the scolytine Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) infesting hickory ( Carya ), who also noted that they utilize the galleries or pupal cells of other wood boring beetles rather than construct pupal cells themselves. Hoffmann (1940) collected larvae of this species from elm trees ( Ulmus ) infested with the buprestid Chrysobothris femorata (Olivier) and the cerambycids Saperda tridentata Olivier , Xylotrechus colonus (F.), Neoclytus acuminatus (F.). Knull (1951) reported that it has been reared from a variety of hardwoods (birch, chestnut, grape, elm, hickory, linden, oak, pear, sassafras, walnut) and conifers infested with wood boring beetles, and is known to feed on Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) in elm. A series of five Kentucky specimens were reared from living elm in 1900 (UKIC). Dorshorst & Young (2008) reported collections from dying jack pine ( Pinus banksiana ), northern pin oak ( Quercus ellipsoidalis ), spruce ( Picea ), on and under shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ) bark, and larvae from under recently felled oak bark in Wisconsin. They noted that most trap collections were collected from oak woodlands/savannas/barrens using Malaise traps, and also flight intercept and Lindgren funnel traps. Opitz (2017) reported it being reared from honey locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ) infested with Agrilus difficilis Gory , and the following plants where infestations were not noted: American elm ( Ulmus americana ) and Texas cedar elm ( Ulmus crassifolia ), balsam poplar ( Populus balsamifera ), black walnut ( Juglans nigra ), bur oak ( Quercus macrocarpa ), shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ), southern prickly ash ( Zanthoxylum clava-herculis ), sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ), and water birch ( Betula occidentalis ).

Mimicry: Adults are thought to mimic Lampyridae ( Mawdsley 1992) . Thought to be part of a mimicry ring in eastern North America that includes members of the families Buprestidae , Cantharidae , Elateridae , Lampyridae , Meloidae , Ptilodactylidae and other clerids ( Monophylla , Placopterus , Pyticeroides ) ( Mawdsley 1994).