Eparces quadriceps (Cresson, 1867)

Figs 3–5

Ichneumon quadriceps Cresson, 1867: 312 . Holotype: ♀ [ANSP]: examined by DDP “[White label] Can. // [White label] quadriceps / ♀ Cres // [Red label] TYPE No. / 1304– ”.

Original type series. In the original description, Cresson (1867: 312) mentioned two specimens —a male and a female—from Canada and Connecticut (USA). However, there was no indication of which of the two specimens was collected in either location, nor was one designated as the name-bearing type. Cresson (1916: 51) later compiled the type list of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) and designated the lectotype as a female from “ Canada. In good condition ”.

However, during a visit to the ANSP collection by DDP, the lectotype, which had been labeled and recorded in the literature as a female, was, in fact, a male specimen (Fig. 4). At this stage, it remains unclear whether Cresson misgendered one of the two specimens or if there was mismanagement during the segregation of the types. This issue has been extensively discussed by Dal Pos et al. (2022) for other species described by Cresson and housed at ANSP (e.g., Asthenolabus canadensis (Cresson, 1877)) .

Despite this discrepancy, Cresson’s (1916: 51) lectotype designation remains valid (following ICZN 1999: Article 74.5), and thus, we can conclude that the lectotype is a male from Canada. A final determination cannot be made for the sex of the specimen from Connecticut, at this stage, and a more thorough study of the ANSP collection may provide further insights.

Diagnosis. Eparces quadriceps is differentiated from congeners by the following combination of characters: primarily brownish-red to light brownish-red with head and T5–7 dark brown to black (head light brownish-red in E. australis); female head shorter than in E. australis; and posterior transverse carina of propodeum always well developed.

Description. Female (Fig. 3). Body length 7.4–8.5 mm; fore wing length 3.6–4.0 mm.

Color. Primarily brownish-red to light brownish-red except: head black except mandibles dark red medially; antenna with scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1–3/4 yellowish-brown to light brown, flagellomeres 4–5 brown, flagellomeres 7–10 yellowish-white to yellow, remainder dark brown; middle and hind legs with femora (except basal 0.1/0.3) and tibiae (except basal 0.2 of middle tibia) dark reddish-brown to black; middle and hind tarsomere 5 dark reddish-brown; T5–7 dark reddish-brown to black.

Head. Clypeus smooth to weakly granulate with a few scattered, coarse punctures. Supraclypeal area granulate and sparsely, shallowly punctate. Gena granulate and sparsely, shallowly punctate. Supra-antennal area granulate with dorsal 0.3/0.5 transversely rugulose, dorsal 0.5/0.7 with a few scattered, shallow punctures. Vertex granulate with scattered, nearly indistinct punctures. Antenna with 20–21 flagellomeres.

Mesosoma. Pronotum weakly granulate, punctation varying from absent to a few shallow, indistinct punctures. Mesonotum and scutellum smooth to weakly granulate with scattered, indistinct punctures. Mesopleuron smooth to weakly granulate, punctation varying from nearly absent to moderately punctate. Speculum smooth to granulate, impunctate to sparsely punctate. Ventral division of metapleuron granulate, impunctate or with a few scattered, shallow punctures. Propodeum granulate, impunctate. Propodeal carinae usually subobsolete (occasionally obsolete or well developed), except posterior transverse carina always well developed.

Metasoma. Granulate, impunctate.

Male (Fig. 4). Body length: 8.2–9.3 mm; fore wing length: 3.9–4.6 mm. As in female except: flagellum brownish-red becoming dark brown apically; middle leg with less extensive brown area; hind leg often with tarsus dark brown; head shorter; punctation denser on supraclypeal area, mesonotum, mesopleuron and ventral division of metapleuron; supra-antennal area more coarsely rugulose. Antennae with 23–24 flagellomeres.

Material examined. Non-types: CANADA • ♂; Ontario; Algonquin Province Park; [45.8371 -78.3791]; 13.viii.1974; B. & C. Dasch; EMUSENT00006086 • ♂; Québec; 3 mi W Québec; [46.8095 -71.2990]; 04.viii.1981; B. & C. Dasch; EMUSENT00005602 • ♂; Québec; St. Esprit; [45.8997 -73.6660]; 21.viii.1956; H. & M. Townes; EMUSENT00004863 • ♂; Toronto; Swansea; [43.6416 -79.447]; 30.vii.1938; H. S. Parish; EMUSENT00004694 . USA • ♂; Connecticut; New London Co.; North Stonington; [41.4410 -71.8815], 21.vii.1946; M. Townes; EMUSENT00004527 • ♂; Connecticut; Windham Co.; Canterbury [41.6984 -71.9079]; 25.vii.1937; M. Chapman; EMUSENT00004162 • ♀; Maryland; Prince George’s Co.; Bowie; [39.0068 -76.7791]; 09.x.1943; H. & M. Townes; EMUSENT00005137 • ♂; Maine; Penobscot Co.; 4.5 mi W Bangor; [44.8021 -68.7711]; 12.viii.1986; B. & C. Dasch; EMUSENT00005707 • ♂; Rhode Island; Washington Co.; Westerly; [41.3776 - 71.8273]; 23.vii.1936; M. Chapman; EMUSENT00004545 • ♀; Rhode Island; Washington Co.; Westerly; [41.3776 -71.8273]; 20.viii.1951; H. & M. Townes; EMUSENT00004548 • ♂; Michigan; Huron Mountains; 27.vii.1959; Henry Townes; EMUSENT00004879 • ♂; Michigan; Cheboygan Co.; Mackinaw City; [45.7781 -84.7281]; 04.viii.1980; B. & C. Dasch; EMUSENT00006214 • ♂; Michigan; Washtenaw Co.; Ann Arbor; [42.2760 -83.7381]; 21–23.vii.1971; Peter Rush; EMUSENT00004592 • ♂; New York; Hancock; [41.9555 -75.2810]; 03.viii.1935; H. K. Townes; EMUSENT00005251 • ♂; New York; Tompkins Co.; Ithaca; [42.4440 -76.5018]; 02.viii.1952; Dasch; EMUSENT00005586 • ♀; New York; Tompkins Co.; Ithaca; [42.4440 -76.5018]; 31.v.1950; EMUSENT00005800 • 2♂♂; New York; Tompkins Co.; McLean Bogs; [42.5487 -76.2660]; vii.1951; Dasch; EMUSENT00005907, EMUSENT00005797 • ♀; Pennsylvania; Tioga Co.; Gaines; [41.7520 -77.5578]; 06.vi.1985; B. & C. Dasch; trap; EMUSENT00005678 • ♂; South Carolina; Oconee Co.; 12 mi NW Walhalla, Oconee State Park; [34.8654, -83.1055]; 03.vi–13.viii.1981; S. B. Peck; EMUSENT00004508 • ♀; Tennessee; Blount Co.; GSMNP; Cades Cove; Wildcat Branch; [35.5794 -83.8352]; old field-forest edge; 549m; 02.vii.2004; Steck & Sutton et al.; UCFC235733 .

Distribution. CANADA (Cresson 1867): Ontario (Townes & Townes 1951); Québec (Provancher 1882); USA: Connecticut (Cresson 1867); Maine (new record); Maryland (new record); Michigan (Carlson 1979); New Hampshire (new record) New York (Bradley 1918; 1926; Cushman 1928); Pennsylvania (new record); Rhode Island (new record); South Carolina (new record); Tennessee (new record); Virginia (Townes & Townes 1951) (Fig. 5).