Enoclerus nigripes (Say, 1823)

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 : 41-42

Enoclerus nigripes (Say, 1823) ; Cleridae : Clerinae : Clerini

Illustrations: Plate 2-G. Enoclerus key, couplet 5-A

Distribution: Northern FL to NS to SK to CO to TX.

- Recorded from: AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan ( Wolcott 1909, 1947; Knull 1951; Papp 1960; King & Fox 1970; Barr 1975; Gosling 1980; Majka 2006; Buguide).

- New State Records: ARKANSAS: Pulaski County: Pinnacle Mnt nr Little Rock MT , 22-IV-2002, 1-V-2002, J Pitts ( UGCA, 3). Washington County: 10-IV-1968, E. Berman ( CMNH, 1). CONNECTICUT: Tolland Co. : Storrs, Willimantic, 41.80800°, -72.3664°, 21- IX- 8-X-2016, Kevin Keegan coll. ( UCONN, 1). LOUISIANA: Kisatchie NF, 4-IV-31-V-2006, DR Miller ( UGCA, 3). NORTH CAROLINA : Murphy, III-V-1999, III-V-2001, DR Miller ( UGCA, 3). NORTH DAKOTA : McKenzie Co.: Theo. Roos. NP, Lindgren trap, Monochamol lure #5, 9-23-V-2023, J. David ( JMLC, 74); Williams Co. : Williston Expt. S., Lindgren trap AP + GE lure #2, 10- 24-V-2023, R . Chipalu ( JMLC, 20). VERMONT: Burlington , Amer. Elm, 30-VI-1969 G. R . Nielsen ( CMNH, 2); Grand Isle County: 1.6 km W of Pearl, 44.689472N, 73.34733W, 38 m., Wood processing, Panel intercept trap with Trichoferus campestris lure + EtOH, 24-V-7-VI-2024, PH Team ( JMLC, 4); Rutland County : 3.4 km SSW of Pittsfield, 43.741978N, 72.821597W, 290 m., Wood processing, Lindgren funnel trap with a-pinene + EtOH + monochamol, 21-V-5-VI-2024, PH Team ( JMLC, 19); Windham County : 0.9 km ESE of Brockways Mills, 43.202725N, 72.506396W, 154 m., wood processing, Lindgren funnel trap with 3- Ips , 28-V-13-VI-2024, PH Team ( JMLC, 6) .

Kentucky counties (Map 11): Bullitt (2), Fayette (10), Floyd (1), Franklin (3), Hopkins (7), Jefferson (13), Jessamine (1), Kenton (1), Lee (1), Letcher (2), Madison (2), Owen (9), Shelby (1), Taylor (1), Trigg (1), Whitley (11), Wolfe (1). Most Kentucky specimens were collected from the eastern half of the state.

Years: 1896 (1), 1938 (1), 1939 (1), 1947 (1), 1948 (1), 1953 (1), 1956 (1), 1967 (11), 1970 (2), 1974 (2), 1975 (2), 1976 (2), 1977 (1), 1981 (1), 1987 (6), 1991 (1), 1994 (1), 2000 (1), 2001 (2), 2002 (2), 2009 (9), 2010 (7), 2011 (1), 2012 (3), 2014 (1), 2015 (2), 2016 (1), 2021 (2)

Months: March (3), April (12), May (10), June (23), July (2), August (7), September (2), October (8)

Collections (67): BugGuide (2), CEWC (6), JMLC (21), OSUC (11), UKIC (27)

Collection methods: Lindgren funnel trap (2), Malaise trap (23)

Natural History: This species preys on adult and larval Pissodes ( Curculionidae ) and scolytines in pine ( Pinus ), spruce ( Picea ), and juniper ( Juniperus ) and on scolytines, other weevils and other small borers in ash ( Fraxinus ), butternut ( Juglans cinerea ), mulberry ( Morus ), and wild cherry ( Prunus avium ) ( Bøving & Champlain 1920; as E. quadriguttatus ). Kaston (1939) reported that it commonly preys on the scolytine Hylurgopinus rufipes (Eichoff) in elm ( Ulmus ) in Connecticut and that eggs were found in the galleries of the scolytine. Knull (1951) added that adults were found overwintering in leaf litter in Ohio in February. Dorshorst & Young (2008) reported collections from spruce ( Picea ), in and around the bark of dead bitternut hickory ( Carya cordiformis ), shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ), and dead black oak ( Quercus velutina ), and on freshly cut jack ( Pinus banksiana ), and red ( Pinus resinosa ) pine logs and slash, and lab rearings from bitternut hickory. They reported that it was abundant in red pine plantations and habitats with pine and oak, often among downed or dying pines and pine slash from prior logging activities in Wisconsin, and reported collections via blacklight, flight intercept, jug, Lindgren funnel, and Malaise traps. Lambdin et al. (2015) observed the larvae preying on larval walnut twig beetles ( Pityophthorus juglandis

Blackman) in their galleries in black walnut ( Juglans nigra ) in Tennessee. Rifkind (2016) reported an observation of an adult preying on an adult ladybeetle ( Psyllobora vigintimaculata (Say)) in Illinois.

Mimicry: Thought to be an ant mimic ( Mawdsley 1994).

Chemical lures: Alpha-pinene ( Chenier & Philogene 1989); Ethanol (Montgommery & Wargo 1983). Ipsdienol + ipsenol (Miller 2013; lures individual or combined, but the combo worked best). Dorshorst & Young (2008) also reported success with all these lures. King & Fox (1970) reported collecting it with “ Ips -baited traps” but did not specify the chemical nature of the lure or the specific type of trap. Label data above for North Dakota includes 20 specimens taken in Lindgren funnel traps baited with alpha-pinene + gelled ethanol (Alex Knudson pers. corr.).

Comments: Literature records report Arizona, California and Mexico (e.g., Wolcott 1947; Papp 1960). We were unable to confirm these distributions.