Triangulating from the cairns…
Paracotalpa granicollis (Haldeman 1852) Saylor 1940 in Colorado (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) (Fig. 57–59) This species has been recorded for Colorado in the literature (Wickham 1905; Hardy 1971; Cranshaw 2007), but without further detail beyond vague geographical indications such as western or northern Colorado. Web sources provided the first localities: Mesa Co.: Colorado National Monument (NPWRC 1994); Moffat Co./ Utah: Dinosaur National Monument (NPWRC 1995). Material examined. DELTA CO.: Cedaredge [ca. 38°54′ N, 107°56′ W], 31.v.1983, leg. B. Nelson (1 spm., CSUC). – Near Sawmill Mesa Cutoff Road, 38°41′13″ N, 108°13′27″ W, 1695 m, 02.iv.2024, vid. S. Hamill, photo record on iNaturalist. GARFIELD CO.: Glenwood Springs, Park West Drive, 39°30′50″ N, 107°19′05″ W, 1775 m, 23.v.2022, photo record on iNaturalist. – Glenwood Springs, US 6, 39°34′22″ N, 107°28′45″ W, 1718 m, 20.iv.2024, vid. C. Nunes, photo record on iNaturalist. – Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley, 39°28′19-20″ N, 107°14′20″ W, 2118 m, 08.iv.2024 and 11.iv.2025, vid. A. Better, photo records on iNaturalist. – West Rifle Creek State Wildlife Area [ca. 39°39′ N, 107°47′ W], 16.iv.1994, leg. B. Kondratieff (1 spm., CSUC). LA PLATA CO.: 5.4 km south of Red Mesa, 37°02′35″ N, 108°11′05″ W, 1877 m, 03.v.2025, probably found dead, photo record on iNaturalist. MESA CO.: Big Wash [ca. 39°11′ N, 108°16′ W], 04.v.1992, leg. B. Kondratieff, W. Cranshaw and H. Knuttel (5 spm., CSUC); dto., 10.v.1995, leg. W. Cranshaw (1 spm., CSUC). – Clifton, Canal Road, 39°09′19″ N, 108°19′45″ W, 1499 m, 02.v.2019, vid. B. Calk, photo record on iNaturalist.– Coal Canyon Trailhead, 39°09′48″ N, 108°20′31″ W, 1517 m, 29.iv.2021, photo record on iNaturalist. – Coal Mine Point, Black Ridge Breaks, 39°05′32″ N, 108°48′30″ W, 2070 m, 25.v.1971, leg. M. Fisher (1 spm.: DMNS, ZE.139381, Fig. 57–58). – Cold Shivers Point, 39°01′58″ N, 108°39′02″ W, 1847 m, 22.iv.2025, vid. D. Martin, photo record on iNaturalist. – Colorado National Monument, Monument Canyon [ca. 39°02′ N, 108°43′ W], 05.v.1987, leg. M. Weissmann, 1740 m (1 spm., UCMC), 20.iv.1988, leg. B. Kondratieff (1 spm., CSUC), 13.v.1990, leg. K. Darrow and M. Weissmann (1 spm., UCMC); 39°05′26″ N, 108°43′24″ W, 1685 m, 10.v.2023, vid. H. Jones, photo record on iNaturalist; 39°03′09″ N, 108°40′53″ W, 1725 m, 12.iv.2025, photo record on iNaturalist. – 10 km southeast of De Beque, 39°14′27″ N, 108°09′10″ W, 1715 m, 28.iv.2020 and 11.iii.2023, photo records on iNaturalist. – De Beque, Main Canyon Trail, 39°10′17″ N, 108°21′12″ W, 1524 m, 12.iv.2025, photo record on iNaturalist. – Fruita, Devil’s Canyon Trail, 39°07′27″ N, 108°46′06″ W, 1461 m, 30.iii.2024, vid. K. Seth, photo record on iNaturalist. – Fruita, Flume Canyon Trail, 39°09′02″ W, 108°46′53″ N, 1385 m, 23.iv.2025, photo record on iNaturalist. – South of Fruita, 39°05′53″ N, 108°44′25″ W, 1788 m, 11.iv.2024, vid. R. Patrick, photo record on iNaturalist. – Gateway, along Dolores River [38°41′ N, 108°59′ W], 03.v.1992, leg. B. Kondratieff, W. Cranshaw, and H. Knuttel (1 spm., CSUC). – Grand Junction, 39°03′22″ N, 108°38′05″ W, 1520 m, 11.iv.2020, vid. A. Stahlke, photo record on iNaturalist. – Grand Junction [ca. 39°04′ N, 108°33′ W], 23.iv.1983, leg. D. J. Liewehr (1 spm., CSUC); dto., 08.v.1990, leg. E. Nelson (1 spm., CSUC). – Grand Junction, Devil’s Kitchen Picnic Area, 39°01′59″ N, 108°38′01″ W, 1542 m, 18.iv.2024, vid. L. Alward, photo record on iNaturalist. – 2.7 km east of Knowles Canyon Trailhead, 39°03′04″ N, 108°32′24″ W, 1915 m, 29.iv.2025, vid. N. Prandoni, photo record on iNaturalist. – 4 km south of Loma, 39°08′40″ N, 108°48′51″ W, 1478 m, 30.iii.2024, vid. G. Brauch, photo record on iNaturalist. – 2 Road 14 km northwest of Mack, 39°16′56″ N, 109°00′42″ W, 1535 m, 15.iv.2019, vid. M. Henwood, photo record on iNaturalist. – I-70 5 km west of Mack, 39°13′36″ N, 108°55′48″ W, 1457 m, 13.iv.2020, vid. A. Carter, photo record on iNaturalist. – Mack, Knowles Overlook Campground, 39°08′15″ N, 109°01′36″ W, 1428 m, 14.iv.2024, vid. M. Guidi, photo record on iNaturalist. – 750 m southeast McDonald Creek Trailhead, 39°09′11″ N, 109°01′44″ W, 1355 m, 13.iv.2024, vid. C. Clayton, photo record on iNaturalist. – Palisade [ca. 39°06′ N, 108°21′ W], 02.v.2004, leg. M. Camper, Japanese beetle trap (1 spm., CSUC). – Palisade, Mt. Garfield, 39°07′32″ N, 108°24′26″ W, 2025 m, 09.v.2023, vid. S. Copeland, photo record on iNaturalist. – 7 km southwest Whitewater, 38°55′51″ N, 108°29′27″ W, 1616 m, 02.iii.2025, photo record on iNaturalist. MOFFAT CO.: Castle Park, Yampa Canyon [ca. 40°29′ N, 108°53′ W], 03.v.1940, leg. H. G. Rodeck (2 spm., UCMC). – Road 182, 40°47′03″ N, 108°51′56″ W, 1695 m, 26.iv.2008, photo record on iNaturalist. – Dinosaur National Monument, 40°43′07″ N, 108°53′26″ W, 1653 m, 03.v.2023, and 40°33′07″ N, 108°54′21″ W, 2124 m, 01.v.2021; photo records on iNaturalist. – Dinosaur National Monument [ca. 40°31′ N, 108°57′ W], vii.1987, leg. C. MacVean (1 spm., CSUC); dto. vi.1987, sagebrush habitat, leg. C. MacVean (1 spm., CSUC). – 4.6 km north north east of Dinosaur, 40°17′00″ N, 108°58′53″ W, 2002 m, – 5.1 km north northeast of Dinosaur, 40°17′13″ N, 108°58′49″ W, 2021 m, 04.vi.2022, vid. A. Birkey, photo record on iNaturalist. – 4.6 km north northeast of Dinosaur, 40°17′00″ N, 108°58′53″ W, 2002 m, 12.v.2022, vid. J. Carter, photo record on iNaturalist. – Irish Canyon, 40°47′15″ N, 108°44′16″ W, 1863 m, 03.v.2025, vid. K. Backiewicz, photo record on iNaturalist. – Lodore Canyon [ca. 40°41′ N, 108°54′ W], 1500–1800 m, 04.v.1948, leg. Bryant, Lot. 5. (32 spm, CAS; 1 spm. with note: “in life thorax is deep blue head is green”). – 8 km northwest of Sunbeam, 40°36′30″ N, 108°15′08″ W, 2004 m, 28.v.2009, vid. R. Webster, photo record on iNaturalist. – North of Road 14N, 40°25′40″ N, 108°38′59″ W, 2174 m, 16.v.2020, vid. K. Mosbruger, photo record on iNaturalist. – State Highway 318 and Road 182, 40°46′44″ N, 108°51′23″ W, 1671 m, 27.iv.2008, photo record on iNaturalist. – Vermillion Falls, 40°43′24″ N, 108°45′29″ W, 1712 m, 14.v.2022, vid. C. B. Boswell, photo record on iNaturalist. MONTEZUMA CO.: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 37°20′43″ N, 108°48′53″ W, 1715 m, 09.iv.2023, and 37°20′32″ N, 108°49′16″ W, 1672 m, 22.iv.2023, vid., S. Tarnowski; photo records on iNaturalist. MONTROSE CO.: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (at the time Black Canyon National Monument) [ca. 38°34′ N, 107°44′ W], 07.v.1961, leg. S. M. Sutton (1 spm., UCMC; this record is listed under Gunnison Co. in Bright and Kondratieff 2023: 293). – Montrose, Paradox Trail, 38°25′16″ N, 107°56′15″ W, 1932 m, 11.iv.2023 and 11.iv.2025, photo records on iNaturalist. – Olathe [ca. 38°36′ N, 107°59′ W], 18.v.1997 (1 spm., DMNS); 38°30′22″ N, 108°09′24″ W, 2151 m, 10.v.2023, vid. C. Fallon, photo record on iNaturalist. RIO BLANCO CO.: 38 km west of Meeker, 40°00′50″ N, 108°22′26″ W, 1957 m, 31.v.2024, photo record on iNaturalist. – Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area, 40°02′33″ N, 108°30′26″ W, 2282 m, 25.iv.2019, photo record on iNaturalist. SAN MIGUEL CO.: Egnar, Road P 13, 38°00′32″ N, 108°49′51″ W, 1722 m, 10.iv.2024, vid. G. Ott, photo record on iNaturalist. Distribution in Colorado (Fig. 59). All records are from the western quarter of Colorado, from the Colorado Plateau shrublands and the Wyoming Basin shrub steppe. The species does not enter the Colorado Rockies forests. The distribution in Colorado extends along the whole western border to the southwest as expected after Kaufman (2009) reported the species from north-western New Mexico (Fig. 59, grey dots). Recently two photo records from Montezuma County and one from San Miguel County were posted in iNaturalist. Phenology. Adults were found from March to beginning of June. Chemical ecology. One specimen was found in a Japanese beetle trap (eugenol, geraniol, 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, 1(R,Z)-5-(1-decenyl) dihydro-2(3H) furanone). Popillia japonica Newman 1838, an invasive pest well established and hyperabundant in Colorado’s population centers (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) (Fig. 60–63) The Japanese beetle, originating from the Japanese Archipelago, is believed to have arrived in the USA as early as summer 1911 with a shipment of Japanese iris to New Jersey and was first recorded in 1916 (Dickerson and Weiss 1918; Howard 1919). In 1918, it had already infested an area of over 100 km 2 (Howard 1919) which grew to almost 76,000 km 2 in 1943 (Hawley and Dobbins 1945). Despite substantial research since its introduction combined with internal quarantine regulations within the USA, the species has been well established in the Eastern States for almost a century and has increased its range continuously (Jackson and Klein 2006). Against previous expectations (Fox 1939; Brandenburg and Villani 1995; Allsopp 1996) and current modelling (Kistner-Thomas 2019), it recently invaded western States. The Japanese beetle prefers mean summer soil temperatures between 17.2 and 27.2°C, mean winter soil temperatures above 9.4°C, and rain spread uniformly throughout the year with at least 25 cm rainfall in summer. “Thus populations are not likely to become well established in the plains or deserts west of the Mississippi River except, perhaps, in well-irrigated locations” (Brandenburg and Villani 1995). And yet, when these lines were published, the Japanese beetle was already established in the Denver Metro area, which is indeed a well irrigated location. Around the same time, a population became established in Billings, Montana (Kerzicnik 2020). The first record from New Mexico was in 1997 (Thompson 1998). In July 2006, it was first detected in Utah, in Orem, Utah Co. (Hodgson 2007; Hodgson et al. 2010), has been eradicated there (Watson and Burfitt 2017), and was detected in 2019 in Salt Lake County (Utah Department of Agriculture and Food 2020) with eradication programs ongoing in several counties (Utah Department of Agriculture and Food 2
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