Phyllobaenus dubius (Wolcott, 1912) Chapman, Eric G., Leavengood, John M. & Dupuis, Julian R., 2025

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 : 57-59

Phyllobaenus pubescens (LeConte, 1849) ; Cleridae : Clerinae : Hydnocerini

= Phyllobaenus dubius (Wolcott, 1912) , new synonymy = Phyllobaenus iowensis (Chapin, 1922) , new synonymy Illustrations: Figure 2 . Plate 4-F; Phyllobaenus key, couplet 1-F, couplet 13-D, E Distribution: FL to NY to BC to NM and into Mexico. - Recorded from: AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NY,

OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY, British Columbia, Manitoba, and northern Mexico (Coahuila,

Tamaulipas) ( Wolcott 1909, 1947; Wickham & Wolcott 1912; Chapin 1922; Papp 1960; Barr 1975; Downie &

Arnett 1996; Mawdsley 2002b; Dorshorst & Young 2008; Hernandez-May et al. 2021).

- New State Records: ALABAMA: Lauderdale County: 5-VI-1958, J. E. Keeler ( CNCI, 1); Lee County :

Auburn, taken on Ceanthous americana , 10-V-1984, 24-V-1984, R. D. Cave ( RDCC, 5); Macon County: 6mi

W Notasulga, 18-VIII-1984, R. D. Cave ( RDCC, 5) . ARKANSAS: Ashley County: 6 miles east of Wilmot , 7 -

VI-1956, H. E. Evans & E. G. Matthews ( JPHC, 1); Benton County: 12-VI-1933, S. A. Summerland ( UAAM,

1); Boone County: 8-VI-1955, P. Boles ( UAAM, 1); Craighead County : 24-VI-1967 ( UAAM, 1); Dallas

County: 28-V-1977, J. L. Lancaster ( UAAM, 2); Desha County: malaise trap in pecan grove, 2-VI-1971, R .

Kirkton ( UAAM, 1); Franklin County: 12-IV-1965 ( UAAM, 1); Hempstead County : on pine, various dates

(25-VII-22-VIII-1962) (NMNH, 14); Lafayette County: black-eyed Susan , 2-VI-1954 ( UAAM, 1); Marion

County: near Yellville, 36 13’34”N, 92 41’05”W, 21-V-1995, R. Androw (RAAC, 4); Mississippi County: 22-

VI-1967 ( UAAM, 1); Nevada County : 12-VIII-1961 ( UAAM, 1) ; Pike County: on weeds, 28- IX-1937, W. F.

Turner ( NMNH, 1); Polk County: Queen Wilhemina State Park, 4-VI-1987, G. F. & J. F. Hevel ( NMNH, 1) ;

Washington County: on loblolly pine, 3-VIII-1965, M. T. Wingfield (NMNH, 1). GEORGIA: Clarke County :

200m elevation, 6-13-V-1992, 13-20-V-1992, 15-22-VII-1992, J. Pickering ( FSCA, 3); Athens, 17-V-1975, R .

Turnbow ( FSCA, 2); Fulton County: Atlanta , 5-VI-1972, T . R . Yonke ( UMRM, 1); Lamar County: 5 miles south of B’ville, 4-V-1986, R . Morris ( RFMC, 1); Oconee County: 5 mi S Farmington , emerged from Pinus taeda L .

tips infested with Rhyaconia frustrana (Comstock) , 1-IX-1975, 5-IX-1975, 11-IX-1975, B. Freeman ( UGCA,

3); Rabun County: Rabun Bald, 16-VII-1957, J. G. Chillcott ( CNCI, 2). IDAHO: Bingham County : tributary of

Spring Creek, Fort Hall Bottoms, elev. 4400 ft., 15-VII-2005, D. J. Cavan (BYUC, 2); Blaine County: Bellevue,

23-VII-1979, A. D. Allen ( UGCA, 1); Payette County: Payette , 12-VII-1979, A. D. Allen ( UGCA, 3); Power

County: Snake River, American Falls, 14-VI-2004, S. M. Clark and M. H. Goodman (BYUC, 1); Snake River,

American Falls, 14-VI-2004, S. M. Clark and M. H. Goodman (JMLC, 1). KENTUCKY: Fayette County :

Lexington, Malaise trap, 1-Aug-65 (UKIC, 1); Jefferson County: Gaslight Estates, 3-VIII-1982, Paul L Stallard

(UKIC, 1); Louisville, 7-V-48, H Liebes ( UKIC, 1); Webster County: Seebree , 21-VIII-1957, R . E. Woodruff

(FSCA, 1). LOUISIANA: W of Ruston , IV-1955, D. A. Young ( NMNH, 1) . MINNESOTA: Lincoln County :

19-VII-1949, W. F. Chamberlain ( TAMU, 1); Mahnomen County : 3-VII-1978, R. T. Franklin ( UGCA, 1); Otter

Tail County: Fergus Falls, Stoner (NMNH, 1). NEW YORK: Queens County: Howard Beach , 21-VII-1974 ,

P. Gargiullo (UGCA, 1). NORTH CAROLINA: Anson County: Peachland , on oak, 5-V-1953, D. H. Habeck

(FSCA, 1); Cleveland County: sweeping old field, 16-VI-1969 , J. S. Ashe ( TAMU, 1); Wake County : 9-V-1958 ,

D. H. Habeck ( FSCA, 1). TENNESSEE: Shelby County: Arlington , 23-V-1969, D. G. Kissinger ( NMNH, 2) ;

Montgomery County: Clarksville, I-24, exit 4, 8-V-2003, M. J. Fossum (CSCA, 1); [Gibson or Obion County]:

Kenton, 4-VIII-1948, B. T. McDermott (SEMC, 1). WYOMING: Laramie County: jct Rts 216 & 85, 22-VI-

2020, J. & M. Huether ( JPHC, 2); Sweetwater County: Killpecker Dune Field , 28-VI-2009, J. Huether & R . H.

Turnbow ( JPHC, 4). MEXICO: COAHUILA: La Infante , 9-VII-1965, W. F. Chamberlain ( TAMU, 1). - New Provincial Records: BRITISH COLUMBIA: 7 mi N of Oliver, 15-VI-1958, H. & A. Howden ( CNCI, 7) ;

5 mi N of Oliver , 12-VI-1958, H. & A. Howden ( CNCI, 4). MANITOBA: Winnipeg, Broomhill Wildlife M .

Area, 15km N of Melita prairie, 17-VI-2014, R . E. Wrigley ( CNCI, 2) ; 5mi SW Shilo , 8-VI-1958, R . B. Madge

(CNCI, 3). Kentucky counties (Map 26): Fayette (1), Jefferson (2). Kentucky specimens were collected in the Interior Plateau ecoregion. Years: 1948 (1), 1965 (1), 1982 (1) Months: May (1), August (2) Collections (3): UKIC (3) Collection methods: Malaise trap (1) Natural History: As in P. pallipennis, Pierce et al. (1912) reported frequently finding the larvae hibernating in boll weevil ( Anthonomus grandis Boheman ) cells or in cocoons of the boll weevil parasitoid Microbracon mellitor (Say) in Texas. Burke (1963) observed multiple adults on the foliage of silverleaf nightshade ( Solanum elaeagnifolium ) in Texas. Farrar (1985) reported that both larvae and adults are predators of the corn earworm ( Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)) . Rogers et al. (1986) reported that it preys on larvae of the frothy moth ( Plagiomimicus spumosum (Grote)) in sunflower inflorescences. Mawdsley (2002b) considered it to be one of the most common and abundant clerid species associated with the North American prairie flora, and provided a long list of flower records ( Amorpha fruticosa , Asclepias latifolia, Aster tanacetifolius, Callirhoe involucrata , Cassia , Cicuta maculata , Croton punctatus , Gaillardia , Helianthus annuus , H. petiolaris , Malvastrum spicatum , Melilotus officinalis , Monarda citriodora ,

M. pectinata , M. punctata , Opuntia , Parthenium hysterophorus , Polytaenia nuttalli , Quamasia (= Camassia ), Rudbeckia amplexicaulis , R. grandiflora , R. hirta , Sideranthus rubiginosus , and Vernonia interior ). Mawdsley (2002b) also reported the following rearing records from: a Megachile brevis Say trap-nest in Kansas; a marsh elder ( Iva ciliata ) stem in Kansas; and a clasping coneflower ( Dracopis (= Rudbeckia ) amplexicaulis ) flower head in Texas. Label data above include five specimens collected from New Jersey tea ( Ceanothus americanus ) in Alabama, 14 specimens taken from pine ( Pinus ) in Arkansas, and three specimens that emerged from loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ) tips infested with the Nantucket pine tip moth ( Rhyaconia frustrana ) in Georgia. Dorshorst & Young (2008) reported collections (as P. dubius ) from softhair marbleseed ( Onosmodium molle ) flowers and common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) in Wisconsin and sweeping in dry prairies was the predominant collecting method.

Comments: As with many species described over 100 years ago, the descriptions of P. iownesis and P. dubius are detailed in describing generalities, but lacking in any discrete, distinct characteristics. Barr (2018) designated P. iowensis a junior synonym of P. dubius . The examination of large series of specimens determined as P. dubius (CNCI, CMNC) , perhaps thousands of specimens of P. pubescens , as well as the female holotypes of dubius ( Fig. 2 : A–D) and iowensis (NMNH) ( Fig. 2 : E–H), facilitated the decision that they were conspecific. The descriptions of these two proposed junoior synonyms fall within the observed variation in punctaion, pubsescence and coloration in pubescens .

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–D: Holotype of Phyllobaenus dubius (Wolcott); E-H: Holotype of P. iowensis (Chapin), both herein designated as junior synonyms of P. pubescens.