Introduced Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada

Abstract

Abstract-The fauna of introduced rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the Maritime Provinces ofCanada is surveyed. Seventy-nine species have now been recorded. Of these, 73 have been found in Nova Scotia, 29 on Prince Edward Island, and 54 in New Brunswick. Twenty-five species are newly recorded in Nova Scotia, 16 on Prince Edward Island, and 10 in New Brunswick, for a total of 51 new provincial records. Of these, 15 species, Tachinus corticinus Gravenhorst, Mycetoporus lepidus (Gravenhorst), Habrocerus capillaricornis (Gravenhorst), Aleochara (Xenochara) lanuginosa Gravenhorst, Gnypeta caerulea (C.R. Sahlberg), Atheta (Microdota) amicula (Stephens), Cordalia obscura (Gravenhorst), Drusilla canaliculata (Fabricius), Deleaster dichrous (Gravenhorst), Coprophilus striatulus (Fabricius), Carpelimus subtilis (Erichson), Leptacinus intermedius Donisthorpe, Tasgius (Rayacheila) melanarius (Heer), Neobisnius villosulus (Stephens), and Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst), are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces. Two of these, Atheta (Microdota) amicula and Carpelimus subtilis, are newly recorded in Canada. Leptacinus intermedius is removed from the faunal list of New Brunswick and Philhygra botanicarum Muona, a Holarctic species previously regarded as introduced in North America, is recorded for the first time in the Maritime Provinces. An examination of when species were first detected in the region reveals that, on average, it was substantially later than comparable dates for other, better known families of Coleoptera -an apparent indication of the comparative lack of attention this family has received. Some introduced species appear to be associated with the dry-ballast mechanism of introduction to the continent, while others are synanthropic and may have been inadvertently introduced in connection with agriculture, horticulture, or other processes associated with human activities. A substantial number are now established and well distributed, seemingly indicative of an early introduction into the region, the ability to successfully colonize a habitat and disperse within it, or a combination of these factors. Other species appear to be local in distribution, perhaps indicative of more recent introductions, more restricted ecological tolerances, a lesser ability to disperse, or a combination of these factors. These recent discoveries are discussed briefly in the context of the importance of taxonomic research and ongoing monitoring in order to detect and identify exotic species and monitor for new introductions and changes in existing native or introduced populations -all important in terms of assessing the risk of introductions to, and their impact on, native faunas and habitats. Majka and Klimaszewski 68Résumé-La faune des staphylins (Staphylinidae) introduits dans les Provinces Maritimes du Canada est étudiée. Soixante-dix-neuf espèces ont maintenant été enregistrées. Parmi celles-ci, 73 ont été trouvées en Nouvelle-Écosse, 29 à l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard, et 54 au Nouveau Brunswick. Vingt-cinq espèces sont de nouvelle...

The coastal rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) of Atlantic Canada: a survey and new records

“…Other characteristic coastline staphylinids such as Aleochara litoralis, Bledius spp., and Creophilus maxillosus have been noted in combination with a variety of other Coleoptera that characteristically inhabit coast-line, beach-drift, and sand dune ecosystems (Herman 1972(Herman , 1976Klimaszewski 1984;Majka and Ogden 2006;Klimaszewski et al 2006;Klimaszewski and Majka 2007;Majka and Klimaszewski 2008).…”

“…Sepedophilus marshami (Stephens, 1832) Th is species was recorded from Nova Scotia by Campbell (1976) and from New Brunswick by Majka and Klimaszewski (2008). Its distribution in North America is shown in Campbell (1976) and in the Maritime Provinces by Majka and Klimaszewski (2008).…”

Pella glooscapi, a new rove beetle, and new records of aleocharines from Nova Scotia, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

“…Previously Majka and Klimaszewski (2008a) reported Drusilla canaliculata (Fabricius, 1787) from Nova Scotia and Majka and Klimaszewski (2008b) added Xenodusa refl exa (Walker) to the provincial list. Drusilla canaliculata is a suspected myrmycophage while X. refl exa is a myrmecophile; both are members of the Lomechusini.…”

“…Th e very high proportion of adventive species found in this region is apparent when one considers that of the 38 adventive aleocharines recorded by Gouix and Klimaszewski (2007) in Canada and Alaska, 31 (82%) are found in the Maritime Provinces. Majka and Klimaszewski (2008a) have discussed the diff erent modes of introduction and dispersal of adventive Staphylinidae in the region.…”

Tachyporus nitidulus (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Tachyporinae): first record from the state of Florida, USA

“…This predatory species is considered adventive to the Nearctic (Majka and Klimaszewski 2008), where it was first recorded from Indiana, USA by Say (1834). Despite its now extensive distribution, T. nitidulus has never been recorded from the state of Florida, USA (Campbell 1979;Peck and Thomas 1998).…”