Brachycentrus (Sphinctogaster) fuliginosus Walker 1852

Brachycentrus (Sphinctogaster) fuliginosus Walker

Brachycentrus fuliginosus Walker, 1852:82.—Betten and Mosely, 1940:177.—Leonard and Leonard, 1949:7.—Fischer, 1970:101.

Brachycentrus lateralis (Say).—Harper, Pilon and Perron, 1975:40 [misidentification].

The type of this species is a female fully figured and redescribed by Betten and Mosely (1940). As it probably is impossible to definitively recognize the species from the type, I follow the usage established by Ross in Leonard and Leonard (1949) of associating the name with the males figured here.

The male is quite distinctive, and shows the species to be a member of the lateralis subgroup, closest to B. occidentalis Banks. In B. fuliginosus Walker the tenth tergum is deeply divided apicomesally. The clasper has virtually no basal area, but extends posterodorsad from near the ventral margin, and is nearly C-shaped in posteroventral aspect with the pointed tip directed toward the base.

The larvae are unknown to me. The larvae described by Denning (1937) under this name are those of the related B. occidentalis Banks.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, 7–8 mm. Color of material in alcohol, dark brown, body very dark. Male abdomen with seventh sternum slightly produced posteromesally, rarely produced into a small free point.

Male Genitalia: Ninth segment without sternal lobe. Cercus long, tapering apicad; cerci separated dorsomesally. Tenth tergum long, with basolateral area bearing a row of setae; in dorsal aspect deeply divided apicomesally, lateral arms rounded apically. Clasper with a very small basal area, directed posterodorsad from near base; in posteroventral aspect almost C-shaped, with tip pointed and directed at base.

LARVA.—Unknown.

TYPE MATERIAL.—Holotype, female, BMNH, published as “St. Martin's Falls, Albany River, Hudson's Bay. Presented by G. Barnston Esq.” Type not seen; illustrated and redescribed by Betten and Mosely (1940).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—USA, MICHIGAN, Lake Co., Pere Marquette River, J.W. Leonard (L47–240), 1, 1 (INHS); same, but 28 May 1937, 1 (INHS). Manistee River near Grayling, 21 May 1936, Frison and Ross, 2 (INHS).

CANADA, QUEBEC, Louiseville, 19 Jun 1974, L. LeSage, 5 (UMQ); same, but 13 Jun 1972, 1 (UMQ). Riviere Nabisipi, 24 Jun 1962, G. Shooner, 1 (UMQ).

ONTARIO (Central), Nagagami River, Sta. 52, 23 Jun 1903, W.J. Wilson, 1 (UMSP).