Quedius laticollis ( Gravenhorst, 1802 )

Hansen, Aslak Kappel, Brunke, Adam, Simonsen, Thomas & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2022, Revision of Quedius sensu stricto (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (1), pp. 225-299 : 280-281

Quedius laticollis ( Gravenhorst, 1802)

( Figs 1 , 4 , 9D,E , 14E , 22 )

Quedius laticollis ( Gravenhorst, 1802) : 173 [Type locality: Baltimore] Quedius neomolochinus Korge, 1962b: 333 [Type locality: Washington, D.C.]

References. EඋංർHඌඈඇ (1840): 536 (characters); MൺඇඇൾඋHൾංආ (1843): 233 (characters); GඋൺඏൾඇHඈඋඌඍ (1847):227 (characters); Kඋൺൺඍඓ (1857): 501 (characters); GൺඇGඅൻൺඎൾඋ (1895): 403 (characters); Fൺඎඏൾඅ (1902): 115 (characters); Pඈඋඍൺ (1907): 129 (characters); Gඋංൽൾඅඅං (1924): 81 (characters); SർHൾൾඋඉൾඅඍඓ (1933):1457 (characters); MඣඊඎංGඇඈඇ (1937): 3 (characters); Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1958): 364, (1965a): 39 (characters); (1971a): 136 (characters and distribution); (1973): 1427 (lectotype designation, synonymy); (1978a):826, (1981): 640, (1990):98 (distribution), Dඈඐඇංൾ & Aඋඇൾඍඍ (1996): 391 (characters and distribution), Gඈඅൽൾඇ & Cඋංඌඍ (2000): 532 (biology), TංඌHൾർHĸංඇ & Cඅංඇൾ (2008): 335 (biology).

Material examined. CANADA: Oඇඍൺඋංඈ: Manitoulin I., Kip Fleming Tract, 8 km SW Gore Bay, 45.8702, -82.5418, under stones oak savannah/alvar, 27.V.2010, leg. S. M. Paiero. (1 DEBU); Pinery Prov. Pk., 43.30, -81.83, oak savannah, ex. Leaf litter, reared from larva, 17.IV.2010, leg. A. Brunke (1 DEBU); Rondeau Provincial Park, Spicebush Trail, [42.30, -81.85], mushroom and litter, 4.VI.1985, leg. J. M. Campbell & A. Davies (3 CNC). Qඎൾൻൾർ: Levis, [46.73, -71.24], 25.VI.1979, leg. C. Chantal (1 CNC). USA: Aඅൺൻൺආൺ: Auburn, [32.59, -84.47], 8.IV.1978, leg. E. J. Kiteley (1 CNC); Ophelika, [32.65, -85.38], 23.I.1974, leg. E. J. Kiteley (1 CNC). AඋKൺඇඌൺඌ: Franklin County, Shores Lake, Ozark National Forest [35.63, -93.95], 20.V.1986, leg. J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); Logan County, Cove Lake, 9 mi SE Paris, [35.23, -93.63], ex debris at edge of lake, 25.V.1986, leg. J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); Logan County, 1km E Lookout Mount. Magazine, [35.16, -93.94], sifting litter, leaf litter along edge of stream, 23.V.1986, leg. J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); Logan County, Mount. Magazine, Lookout, [35.16, -93.64], sifting litter, deciduous leaf litter, 26.V.1986, J. M. Campbell (1 CNC); Mobile, [30.69, -88.06], 22.VI.1919 (1 MCZ); Newton County, Buffalo National Reserve, Steel Creek, [36.03, -93.33], treading clumps of Carex, 17.V.1986, leg. J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); Pulaski County, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Base Trail, [34.84, -92.49], ex flood debris on river, 11.V.1986, leg. J. M. Campbell (1 CNC); Searcy County, Ozark National Forest, Forest Service Road 1205, Richland Creek, [35.77, -95.99], sifting litter, leaf litter along edge of stream, 15.V.1986, leg. J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); Stone County, Blanchard Springs State Park, [35.96, -92.17], 182 m, 18.V.1973, leg. D. H. Kavanaugh & H. Goulet (2 CNC). Fඅඈඋංൽൺ: Alacha Co., Gainesville, [29.63, -82.33], leaf litter & rotten logs, 5.V.1981, leg. Watrous (1 FMNH); Fort Walton Beach, [30.41, -86.61], 21.III.1975, leg. E.J. Kiteley (1 CNC); Leon Co., Tallahassee, [30.43, -84.29], mixed hardwood, 19.XI.1976, leg. Marshall & Justice (2 JJ 3 ♀♀ FMNH); St. Augustine, [29.89, -81.31], leg. Liebeck (1 CNC); Suwanee Co., 15 mi SW Live Oak Hwy. 51., [30.11, -83.17], pine and hardwood litter, 24.III.1977, leg. O’Brien (1 J FMNH); Volusia Co., 2 mi S Enterprise, [28.85, -81.30], leaf litter, 23.VIII.1965, leg. Suter (1 J FMNH). Iඅඅංඇඈංඌ: Union County, Pine Hills near McCann Springs, [37.58, -89.43], 6.V.1976, leg. A Smetana, (4 CNC); Union County, 5 mi NE Reynoldsville, [37.40, -89.28], 9.V.1976, leg. A Smetana (1 CNC); St Clair County, [38.46, -89.95], 6.X.1901, leg. G. W. Bock (1 CNC); Willow Springs, [41.72, -87.86], 16.VIII.1923 (1 MCZ). Lඈඎංඌංൺඇൺ: Calcasieu Parish, Choupique Bayou, 7 mi N Hackberry, [30.13, -93.36], 16.IV.1976, leg. A. Smetana (27 CNC); Calcasieu Parish, 2 mi W Sulphur, [30.24, -93.45], 13.IV.1976, leg. A. Smetana (1 CNC); Corney Lake, [32.91, -92.74], 26.VI.1983, leg. B. F. & J. L. Carr (2 CNC). Mൺඋඒඅൺඇൽ: Baltimore, [39.31, -76.61], 6.VII.1909, leg. F. E. Blaisdell (1 CNC); Baltimore, [39.28, -76.62] (1 MCZ). MൺඌඌൺർHඎඌൾඍඍඌ: Barnstable Co., Woods Hole, 41.5304, -70.6533, 30 m, near small pond, 30.IX.2010, leg. BIObus (3 CMNH). Mංඌඌංඌඌංඉඉං: Oktibeha County, Craig Springs, [33.31, -88.92], peripheral to cult. Cotton, pitfall trap, 10.X.1979, leg. G.L. Snodgrass (2 CNC). Mංඌඌඈඎඋං: Williamsville, [36.97, -90.54], deciduous duff, 12.VII.1955, leg. E. C. Becker (1 CNC). Nൾඐ Jൾඋඌൾඒ: Woodbury, [39.83, -75.15], VIII.1920, leg. H. A. Wenzel (1 CNC). Nൾඐ YඈඋK: Inlet Valley, Ithaca, [42.44, -76.5], 18.X.1917, leg. H. Dietrich (1 CNC). NඈඋඍH Cൺඋඈඅංඇൺ: Ocracoke Island, Ocracoke, [35.12, -75.93], 10.VIII.1972, leg. A. Smetana (2 CNC). OKඅൺHඈආൺ: Latimer Co, [34.85, -95.25], IV.1994, leg. Stephen (5 TAMU). Pൾඇඇඌඒඅඏൺඇංൺ: Allegheny County, [40.46, -79.98], leg. E. A. Klages (1 CNC), Frankford, [40.01, -75.07], leg. H. W. Wenzel (1 CNC). SඈඎඍH Cൺඋඈඅංඇൺ: Camden, [34.25, -80.60], 23.VI.1929, leg. Darlington (1 MCZ). Tൾඑൺඌ: Anderson Co., 15 mi SSE Palestine, 31.5667, -95.4667, pitfall traps, 1.-10.XI.1996, leg. Yantis (2 TAMU); Brazos Co., Koppe’s Bridge, 5 mi SW College Station, [30.57, -96.33], leaf litter, hardwood forest, 15.I.1994, leg. Riley (1 TAMU); Columbus, [29.70, -96.54], VIII.1906, leg. C. V. Riley (1 CNC). Orange County, Bridge City, [30.02, -93.83], 18.IV.1976, leg. A. Smetana (33 CNC); Orange County, 3 mi NW Orange, [30.15, -93.81], 17.IV.1976, leg. A. Smetana (3 CNC); Sabine Co., Sabine Nat. Forest , 3.2 mi E Hemphill, [31.35, -93.79], pine litter, 29.VII.1975, leg. Ashe (1 TAMU); Trinity County, 2.5 mi NW Apple Springs, [31.24, -95.01], 23.IV.1976, leg. A. Smetana (1 CNC); Trinity County, 12 mi SW Lufkin, [31.20, -94.99], 22.IV.1976, leg.A. Smetana (3 CNC). VංඋGංඇංൺ: Arlington Co., Roaches Run, [38.86, -77.04]., 15.IV.2013, leg. J. R. Fisher (1 ♀ FMNH); Lee Co., Young-Fugate Cave, [36.79, -82.97], 25.VI.1963, leg. Holsinger (1 ♀ CMNH). Wൾඌඍ VංඋGංඇංൺ: Glen Dale, [39.94, -80.75], grassy hillside, 29.VII.1973, leg. J. H. Redner (1 CNC).

Redescription. Measurements JJ (n = 3): HW = 1.67– 1.76 (1.70); HL = 1.33–1.40 (1.37); HL/HW 0.80–0.82 (0.80); PW = 2.20–2.24 (2.21); PL = 1.96–2.04 (1.99); PL/PW 0.89–0.91 (0.90); EW = 2.18–2.29 (2.24); EL = 1.93–2.07 (1.99); EL/EW 0.86–0.92 (0.89); EL/PL 0.99– 1.01 (1.00); PW/HW 1.60–1.65 (1.62); forebody length 5.22–5.51 (5.36). ♀♀ (n = 4): HW = 1.60–1.84 (1.71); HL = 1.29–1.47 (1.38); HL/HW 0.80–0.83 (0.81); PW = 2.04–2.31 (2.19); PL = 1.89–2.22 (2.04); PL/PW 0.91–0.96 (0.93); EW = 2.09–2.44 (2.30); EL = 1.91–2.16 (2.03); EL/EW 0.86–0.91 (0.88); EL/PL 0.97–1.01 (1.00); PW/ HW 1.57–1.60 (1.58); forebody length 5.09–5.84 (5.46).

Medium sized, robust species; body dark brown to black ( Figs 9D,E ).

Head black, distinctly transverse with eyes medium sized (EyL/TL = 1.61–1.88 (1.76)); microsculpture of transverse waves; no additional punctures between anterior frontal punctures ( Fig. 6F ); antennae and palpi reddish, all antennomeres elongate.

Thorax: pronotum dark brown to black, slightly wider than long, wider than head, with microsculpture of transverse waves; three punctures in dorsal row and one to two in sublateral row with its posteriormost puncture reaching just beyond level of first puncture of dorsal row; scutellum punctured and pubescent; elytra most often dark brown more rarely fully darkened, uniformly pubescent, slightly wider than long, roughly same length as pronotum; legs reddish brown with inner face of tibia and inner femur darkened.

Abdomen dark brown to black, tergites uniformly punctured, without clear iridescence.

Male. Aedeagus ( Fig. 14E ): paramere rather broad lanceolate without clear medial attenuation, reaching just beyond apex of median lobe, with sensory peg setae forming a distinct triangular patch; median lobe broad with gentle constriction to a point at apex, on parameral side with two small teeth protruding slightly basad, positioned at level near lower level of peg setae patch of paramere.

Differential diagnosis. Quedius laticollis is very similar in North America to the introduced species Q. molochinus , from which it can be confidently distinguished through examination of male genitalia. Other differences include slightly more stout antennae with less elongate, darker middle antennomeres in Q. molochinus . Also, the elytra in Q. laticollis have a finer and denser punctation and are most often brownish-red, yellowish, or dark in coloration, where it is either brick red or dark in Q. molochinus . Quedius laticollis is also similar to Q. strenuus , which replaces Q. laticollis in the Great Plains. However, all examined specimens of Q. strenuus are completely dark with pale appendages, contrary to the rarely fully darkened specimens of Q. laticollis . For confident separation of Q. laticollis and Q. strenuus the position of the peg setae of the paramere are diagnostic as they form two distinct rows in Q. strenuus and a triangular patch in Q. laticollis . Quedius laticollis cannot be confused with any other North American Quedius as they either have interocular punctures on frons or (from other subgenera) have clear medial incision of labrum and abdomen notably tapering apicad.

Synonymic notes. Quedius neomolochinus Korge, 1962 was originally described from Baltimore most likely without knowledge of Gravenhorst’s description of Q. laticollis , which was at that time a synonym of Q. molochinus . KඈඋGൾ (1962) also described a color variant (black with paler elytral suture and posterior margin) of Q. neomolochinus as Q. marginatus Korge, 1962 which is unavailable name according to the ICZN Article 45.6. Quedius marginatus was thought to be identical with Q. neomolochinus by Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1971a) when he revised the North American fauna of the tribe Quediini . Later Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1973) realized that Q. laticollis was identical to Korge’s Q. neomolochinus and established the respective synonymy along with the lectotype designation for Q. laticollis . Our data fully corroborates such established concept of Q. laticollis .

Bionomics. Quedius laticollis is a rather common generalist found in a large variety of damp lowland habitats. Specimens have been reported from sphagnum in a tamarack swamp (Sආൾඍൺඇൺ 1971a), from sifting damp leaves in a deciduous forest in Florida, from flood-debris along the edges of swamps and marshes, from tufts of swamp grass dumped into water in Louisiana and Texas (Sආൾඍൺඇൺ 1978a), from forest floor litter (hardwood and pine) and from under rocks in Arkansas, and around cotton and soybean fields in Mississippi (Sආൾඍൺඇൺ 1990). One of us (AJB) has collected this species under large boulders in spring in an open scrubby alvar habitat with few oak trees (Manitoulin, Island, Ontario, Canada). This habitat has poorly drained, thin soil on exposed bedrock. TංඌHൾർHĸංඇ & Cඅංඇൾ (2008) recorded a single specimen from a pocket gopher burrow in Louisiana, most likely an accidental occurrence.

Distribution. Quedius laticollis is found in Eastern North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Plains, where it is replaced by Q. strenuus (ecoregion 8, Fig. 22 ). In the south it extends to northern Florida and along the Gulf Coast, but not into the subtropical regions of Texas, Florida and Mexico. To the north it extends to the central and north part of Lake Huron (Manitoulin Island) and follows the Saint Lawrence Valley to Quebec City, as the northernmost record.

Figures

Fig. 1. Phylogenetic tree of Quedius s. str. based on preliminary target capture molecular dataset of Bඋඎඇĸൾ et al. (2021) and Hൺඇඌൾඇ et al. (in prep). Species groups shown in color. Q. altanai Hansen & Brunke, sp. nov. of the Q. molochinoides-group was not included in the dataset. Habitus sketch is of Q. fuliginosus (Gravenhorst, 1802). Lettering denotes species distribution within their respective groups.

Fig. 4. Phylogeny of Quedius s. str. species based on Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) COI barcodes (part 2). BI posterior probabilities (PP), ML ultrafast bootstrap support (UFB) and ML SH-aLRT test are shown. Nodes coloured as: green, PP ≥ 0.90, and either UFB ≥ 95 or SH-aLRT ≥ 80; yellow, one of PP ≥ 0.90, UFB ≥ 95 or SH-aLRT ≥ 80; red, PP <0.90, UFB <95 and SH-aLRT <80.

Fig. 9. Habitus of Quedius s. str. A – Q. hispanicus Bernhauer, 1898; B – Q. hispanicus (pale sutures variant); C – Q. pallipes Lucas, 1846; D – Q. laticollis (Gravenhorst, 1802) (black elytra variant); E – Q. laticollis (red elytra variant); F – Q. strenuus Casey, 1915.

Fig. 14. Aedeagus of Quedius s. str. A – Q. unicolor Kiesenwetter, 1847; B – Q. levasseuri Coiffait, 1964 (syn. of Q. pallipes Lucas, 1846); C – Q. hispanicus Bernhauer, 1898; D – Q. pallipes Lucas, 1846; E – Q. laticollis (Gravenhorst, 1802); F – Q. strenuus Casey, 1915. I – Parameral view of whole aedeagus, II – apices of paramere in antiparameral view with peg setae, III – lateral view of whole aedeagus, IV – apices of median lobe at an angle between parameral and lateral view.

Fig. 22. Distribution of Quedius molochinoides Smetana, 1965 (top), and Q. laticollis (Gravenhorst, 1802) and Q. strenuus Casey, 1915 (bottom).

Fig.6. Head and pronotal chaetotaxy of Quedius s. str.A – general scheme; B – Q. curtipennis Bernhauer, 1908, C – Q. fuliginosus (Gravenhorst, 1802); D – Q. levicollis Brullé, 1832; E – Q. afrofuliginosus Gusarov, 1991; F – Q. molochinus- and Q. laticollis-groups; G – Q. molochinoides-group. Abbreviations as follows: anterior frontal puncture (AFP); basal punctures (BP); interocular punctures (IOP); lateral puncture (LP); lateral row (LR); posterior frontal puncture (PFP); parocular punctures (POP); sublateral row (SLR).