[note: “Lacconotus” indicates the character states for subgenus Lacconotus, while “Alcconotus” refers to the corresponding states in subgenus Alcconotus (see below)].

Body elongate oval (TL/GEW 2.8-3.4), parallel-sided to widened posterior of middle, slightly (Alcconotus) to moderately (Lacconotus) flattened dorsally. TL 4.6–7.5 mm.

Head relatively short, narrowed slightly posterior of eyes; eyes moderately large, distinctly convex, inner margins convergent anteriorly; facets moderately coarse, with intrafacetal setae (especially noticeable in Alcconotus); frontoclypeal suture indistinct, indicated by slight furrow only; antennal insertions slightly concealed dorsally by raised lateral margins of frons; labrum transverse, anterior margin straight to shallowly sinuate.

Antennae relatively short (Fig. 1) (Lacconotus) to moderately elongate (Figs 2–3) (Alcconotus), not exhibiting distinct sexual dimorphism; scape and pedicel moniliform (Lacconotus) to slightly elongate (Alcconotus); antennomere 3 elongate, antennomeres 4–10 wider than long, submoniliform (Lacconotus) to elongate, triangular to subserrate (Alcconotus); antennomere 11 narrowed distally; sensilla present on distal surface of antennomeres 5–10.

Mandibles relatively short, stout, slightly asymmetrical, apically bidentate; terebral teeth absent, or represented by several minute crenulae; molae approximately equal in size, subquadrate, with slightly developed surface texture; both mandibles with abrupt incision distal of mola; ventral row of microtrichia absent; prostheca distinct, about half length of mandible, inserted near distal edge of mola; maxilla with galea slightly longer than lacinia; galea bluntly rounded distally, relatively densely pubescent; maxillary palpi elongate, apical palpomere securiform (Lacconotus) to slightly cultriform (Alcconotus); inner margins of palpomeres 1 and 2 straight (Lacconotus) to slightly sinuate (Alcconotus); mentum short, about 2 × wider than long, posterior suture straight (Alcconotus) or distinctly arcuate (Lacconotus).

Thorax. Prothorax subquadrate (Figs 1–3), slightly wider than long (GPW/PL = 0.90–1.29); pronotal margins straight and convergent anteriorly, to slightly arcuate and widest near midlength; pronotal disc flat to slightly convex, with variously developed shallow, paired depressions; lateral pronotal carinae absent, margin smooth; posterior margin with pair of small, deep, punctiform pits; prosternum anterior of procoxae short (Lacconotus) to moderately elongate (Alcconotus), surface flat to slightly sunken medially; intercoxal process short, knife-like, extended to about half length of procoxae; procoxae rounded (Lacconotus) to elongate (Alcconotus); procoxal cavities open externally and internally; protrochantin concealed.

Elytra elongate, subovate, disc flat (Lacconotus) to slightly convex (Alcconotus), upper surface uniformly and moderately coarsely punctate and setose (slightly more coarse in Lacconotus), setae closely appressed to elytral surface; apical elytral patch present, but not conspicuous dorsally, not contrasting in color with respect to remainder of elytron; epipleuron narrow, traceable only to abdominal ventrite 3 or 4; mesosternum with posterior intercoxal process parallel-sided, extended posteriorly to near posterior extent of mesocoxae; mesocoxae narrowly but completely separated, trochantins exposed; coxal cavities partly closed laterally by mesepimera; metasternum large, convex, anterior margin with indistinct (Lacconotus) to distinct (Alcconotus) process, in contact with posterior mesosternal process; median impressed line distinct to at least half distance to anterior margin of metasternum; metendosternite with long, relatively wide stalk; anterior tendons inserted on anterior margin of metendosternite body; laminae large, produced and somewhat angulate laterally.

Wing (Figs 7–8) fully developed, membrane beyond distinct radial cell moderately short (esp. in Lacconotus); venation similar in both species, but wing membrane and veins relatively darkly pigmented in Alcconotus (Fig. 8), very pale in Lacconotus (Fig. 7); wedge cell present; 3 MP veins reaching wing margin, proximal to CuA+AA; pigmented patches (flecks) present near junction of RP and MP, and near radial cell (Alcconotus), indistinct in Lacconotus.

Legs well developed, similar in relative shape and size on all thoracic segments; middle and hind femora slightly more expanded than front femora; femora relatively slender, but distinctly widened toward midlength; tibiae straight, about same length as femora, tibial spurs very short, equal in length; tarsomeres slender, 5–5-4; all tarsomeres simple ventrally, except for penultimate tarsomere with large ventral lobe; basal tarsomere on hind tarsus subequal in length to other tarsomeres combined; tarsal claws with large blunt tooth.

Abdomen with all ventrites freely articulated, uniformly punctate and setose, except for male sex patch; sex patch of two forms: small, longitudinally oval, setose patch on ventrite 2, not contrasting in color with ventrite (Fig. 6) (Alcconotus); or large, somewhat bulbous, glabrous area occupying and somewhat distorting the shape of ventrite 2, distinctly contrasting in color to dark ventrite surface (Fig. 5) (Lacconotus).

Male genitalia with median lobe dorsal to tegmen; sternite 9 forming ring-like sclerite, U-shaped in Alcconotus (Fig. 11), Y-shaped in Lacconotus (Fig. 9); tegmen relatively short, stout; basale broader than long, proximal margin deeply emarginate; length of apicale subequal to that of basale (along lateral margins); parameres of apicale short (Fig. 11) (Alcconotus) to slightly elongated (Fig. 9) (Lacconotus), with distal, inwardly-directed hook; median lobe (Figs 10, 12) stout, longer than tegmen; ventral side deeply emarginate, dorsal side proximally subquadrate, laterally produced, explanate; apex of median lobe triangular, relatively blunt.

Female genitalia with elongate, flexible, and only slightly sclerotized ovipositor; coxites 4-segmented, sparsely setose; distal segment short, distinctly more sclerotized than remainder of coxite; styli short, setose, with several very long distal setae; dorsal and ventral baculi well developed, extended to base of coxites; spiculum long, far exceeding length of segment 8; bursa copulatrix small (Fig. 13) (Lacconotus) to very large (Fig. 14) (Alcconotus), separated from vagina by narrow constriction, without conspicuous surface texture; spermatheca present, inserted near or at base of bursa, with elongate spermathecal gland.

holotype, male, labeled: “[pink circle] / ♂ / Type 4760 / Lacconotus punctatus Lec. / HOLOTYPE ♂ Lacconotus punctatus LeC. exam. Pollock 2000”, in MCZC.

This species is easily diagnosed by the following characteristics: body color dark piceous to near black, pronotum with reddish margins and black center (Figs 1, 4); antennae relatively short, antennomeres submoniliform; male sex patch on ventrite 2 bulging, glabrous, yellow-orange, contrasting with dark color of venter (Fig. 5); distribution in eastern North America (Fig. 15).

To general features of Lacconotus (see description, above) the following can be added: TL 4.4–5.8 mm; GEW 1.5–2.0 mm; TL/GEW 2.9–3.3. Dorsal body surface uniformly piceous to near black, except for lateral areas of pronotum red-orange (Fig. 1); extent of light area varying, from extreme posterolateral corners to fully 2/3 of pronotal disc; ventral surface and legs dark, piceous to near black; antennomeres 5–10 short, distinctly wider than long, submoniliform; antennal sensilla completely annular, covering entire distal antennal surface, around insertion point of next antennomere; wing very pale, veins present, but inconspicuous; male sex patch (Fig. 5) very large, occupying entire length of second ventrite, prolonged onto ventrite one, glabrous and bulging ventrally; color of sex patch yellow-orange, distinctly contrasting background color of ventrite; tegmen of male genitalia (Fig. 9) moderately elongate, parameres of apicale relatively slender; bursa copulatrix (Fig. 13) spherical, small.

Lacconotus punctatus is newly recorded in Alabama, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin (see Appendix A). Published records of Lacconotus punctatus are from Ontario (Campbell 1991)¹, Québec (Campbell 1991)², and Nova Scotia (Majka and Selig 2006) in Canada [Horn (1879) first reported it from “Canada”], and Georgia (Ulyshen et al. 2010), Michigan (Hubbard et al. 1878; Horn 1879), New Hampshire (Chandler 2001), Ohio (Dury 1902; Blatchley 1910), and Pennsylvania (LeConte 1862) in the United States.

The new records above make clear that the distribution of Lacconotus punctatus in North America is much wider than previously known (Fig. 15). Less than a decade ago, Pollock (2002) reported the species from only four jurisdictions in North America (Québec, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan). There are now records from 14 states and provinces on the continent. The records from Wisconsin constitute a northwestern range extension of 650 km; and those from Oklahoma a southwestern range extension of 1, 000 km. The present distribution indicates that Lacconotus punctatus is found over much of eastern North America, from a latitude of 33.6° to 44.3°N, and between longitudes of 64.5° and 95.3°W, much of the continent west of the prairies.

There is also much more information on the range of habitats that Lacconotus punctatus occupies. In Nova Scotia a specimen was found in a mixed forest of white pine (Pinus strobus L.), balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.), and maple (Acer spp.) (Majka and Selig 2006). In New Hampshire, W.J. Morse and D.S. Chandler collected 26 specimens at a water tower in a mixed hardwood forest with eastern hemlocks. In Oklahoma a specimen was collected on a dead oak and in Wisconsin a specimen was found in an oak savanna. In Arkansas a specimen was found in a mixed forest/old field.

In Georgia, specimens were collected in mature bottomland hardwood forests in April with flight intercept traps in the forest canopy (Ulyshen et al. 2010). Dominant trees included box elder (Acer negundo L.), oak (Quercus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.), eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides (Bartr.) ex. Marsh.), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) with some loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) (M. Ulyshen, pers. comm.). Five of six specimens were found 15 m above the forest floor (Ulyshen et al. 2010). Ulyshen et al. (2010) proposed that Lacconotus punctatus may be an early-seasonal canopy specialist, a reason why it has been so infrequently collected.

The phenology information that is available (Fig. 16) indicates that adults can be found between 31 March and 16 June. Specimens from southern areas (i.e., Georgia) were found in mid April (Ulyshen et al. 2010), whereas those from northern latitudes (i.e., New Hampshire) occur mainly during the last two weeks of May and first week of June (D.S. Chandler, pers. comm.), indicating a north-to-south gradation in occurrence period.

Lacconotus pinicola Horn, by present designation.

a partial anagram of Lacconotus, in which its species was formerly placed.

Pollock (2002) stated that it might be necessary to establish a new genus for the two western species of Lacconotus, although no details were given to justify this possibility. There are many differences between the eastern and western species of Lacconotus (see description above, for Lacconotus), but the most significant reason for proposal of this new subgeneric name is the structure of the male sex patch, which differs greatly between Lacconotus punctatus and Lacconotus pinicola. It could be argued that this might justify separation into two genera; however, within the related genus Mycterus Clairville (Mycterinae) there are also significant differences in this structure. Also, there are significant differences in the structure of the bursa copulatrix and spermatheca between the two groups (see Figs 13–14); it is impossible to compare these intrageneric differences with other eurypine or mycterid taxa, since the internal female genitalia have yet to be studied in detail in most groups.

See description above, for Lacconotus; characteristics unique to Alcconotus are indicated with the alternatives for Lacconotus (s. str.).

(Lacconotus pinicola, all in MCZC).—lectotype (here designated), female, labeled: “Veta Pass 27.6 Col / 592 / [red] Type 7976 / [handwritten] Lacconotus pinicola (Schwz) / J.L. LeConte Collection / LECTOTYPE ♀ Lacconotus pinicola Horn 1879; design. D.A. Pollock 1994”. paralectotype. female, labeled: “Col / [blue] Para-Type 8047. / G.H. Horn Collection”, in MCZC.

(Lacconotus pallidus, all in CAS).—holotype, male (CAS type # 2585), labeled “Mt. Wilson Cal. 6.13.3 / 7701 / Van Dyke Collection / Holotype [along left margin of label covered in red ink] ♂ Lacconotus pallidus Van Dyke". ALLOTYPE, female, labeled "Carmel, Monterey Co VI-4-1916 Cal. / Van Dyke Collection / Allotype [along left margin of label covered in red ink] ♀ Lacconotus pallidus Van Dyke". Four PARATYPES. Male, labeled "Carmel, Monterey Co VI-4-1916 Cal. / Van Dyke Collection / Paratype [along left margin of label] ♂ Lacconotus pallidus Van Dyke". Male, labeled "ParaisoSpgsCal V.28 1924 L.S. Slevin / L.S. Slevin Collection / Paratype [along left margin of label] Lacconotus pallidus Van Dyke". Female, labeled "ParaisoSprings V.31 1916 Cal. / L.S. Slevin Collection / Paratype [along left margin of label] Lacconotus pallidus Van Dyke". Female, labeled "Paraiso Springs V.29 1916 Cal. / CHAMISAL / L.S. Slevin Collection / Paratype [along left margin of label] Lacconotus pallidus Van Dyke".

Lacconotus (Alcconotus) pinicola may be distinguished from Lacconotus punctatus by the following features: body color ranging from testaceous to dark brown, uniform dorsally (Figs 2–3); antennae relatively long, subserrate; male sex patch on ventrite 2 small, oval, densely pubescent (Fig. 6); distribution in western North America (Fig. 15).

(see Horn 1879 and Van Dyke 1928) – With general features of subgenus Alcconotus (as described above) with the following: TL 4.8–7.5 mm; GEW 1.5–2.3 mm; TL/GEW 2.8–3.4. Dorsal body surface uniformly testaceous to dark brown or piceous (Figs 2–3), without any color contrast; antennomeres 5–10 relatively elongate, subserrate; antennal sensilla not completely surrounding opening of antennomere, restricted to triangular side of antennomeres; wing membrane distinctly pigmented, veins very conspicuous (Fig. 8); male sex patch longitudinally oval, occupying about 2/3 length of ventrite 2, densely covered with short setae (Fig. 6), not bulbous or contrasting in color; tegmen of male genitalia (Fig. 11) short, parameres stout; bursa copulatrix (Fig. 14) very large, spherical.

Van Dyke (1928) established Lacconotus pallidus (as distinct from Lacconotus pinicola) based on its lighter color, relatively narrower pronotum, shorter relative length of the elytra, and deeper punctation. However, upon examination of the type series and other specimens, we have determined that the only feature of Van Dyke’s that withstands scrutiny is the habitus color. As well, more detailed examination has revealed that the male and female genitalia and male sex patch are virtually identical between Lacconotus pinicola and Lacconotus pallidus. One feature, mentioned by Van Dyke (1928) that does seem noteworthy is the somewhat restricted distribution of Lacconotus pallidus in southern California. We herein consider Lacconotus pallidus a pale “form” of Lacconotus pinicola.

Lacconotus (Alcconotus) pinicola is newly recorded from Arizona, Utah, and Baja California Norte in Mexico (see Appendix A). Published records of Lacconotus pinicola are from British Columbia (Hatch 1965), California (Fall 1901; Van Dyke 1928), Colorado (Horn 1879; Cockerell 1893; Van Dyke 1928), western Nevada (Horn 1879), and New Mexico (Snow 1882, 1906; Knaus 1907). The range of the species (Fig. 15) shows it to be widely distributed in the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) extending south to Baja California Norte in Mexico, and in southeastern British Columbia. Specimens should be sought in intervening areas in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to ascertain if these populations are actually disjunct.

A number of specimens examined were found on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex. C. Lawson), including one specimen which was recorded as emerging from a dead Pinus ponderosa branch. It has also been found on Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni Parry ex Engelm.), scrub oak (Quercus turbinella Greene), and cherry (Prunus sp.). Specimens have been collected at UV lights, with malaise and flight-intercept traps, and by beating vegetation. Fall (1901: 177) wrote “...rare during May and June; found always on oaks, notwithstanding its name.” The larva of Lacconotus pinicola has been illustrated by Lawrence (1991), but not described in detail. The phenology information that is available (Fig. 16) indicates that adults can be found between 13 May and 29 August with two specimens having been found in the autumn (6 October and 6 November). The peak in adult numbers appears to be in the first half of July.