Systematics, distributions, and bionomics of the small carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae: Cholevini) of North America

Abstract

In North America, the tribe Cholevini (Coleoptera: Leiodidae) is composed of the genera Prionochaeta Horn with 1 species, Catoptrichus Murray with 1 species, Sciodrepoides Hatch with 3 species, and Catops Paykull with 17 species. The species are mostly forest inhabitants that feed on carrion and other decaying materials, but some occur in tundra habitats, in caves, and in rodent burrows. Resurrected status is proposed for Sciodrepoides terminans (LeConte). The subspecies status of Sciodrepoides watsoni hornianus (Blanchard) is not supported. Lectotypes are designated for Catops terminans LeConte (= Sciodrepoides terminans (LeConte)), Choleva gratiosa Blanchard (= Catops gratiosus (Blanchard)), and Choleva egena Horn (= Catops egenus (Horn)). Neotypes are designated for Catops simplex Say and Catops basilaris Say. Catops luteipes Thomson is reported from North America for the first time. New species are Sciodrepoides latinotum Peck and Cook sp.nov., Catops paramericanus Peck and Cook sp.nov., Catops apterus Peck and Cook sp.nov., and Catops meridionalis Peck and Cook sp.nov. Four Catops species are Holarctic in distribution, whereas the others are restricted to North America, south to Mexico.

The Leiodidae (Coleoptera) of Atlantic Canada: new records, faunal composition, and zoogeography

“…Th is is a northern, boreal species reported by Peck and Cook (2002) from Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (Fig. 10).…”

“…Catops americanus was reported by Peck and Cook (2002) from Nova Scotia, but not from New Brunswick (Fig 10). It was formerly listed as occurring in New Brunswick in Peck (1991), however, this was prior to the description of the very similar C. paramericanus (Peck and Cook 2002), which is recorded as occurring in New Brunswick. Presumably, earlier reports of C. americanus from New Brunswick are now ascribable to C. paramericanus.…”

“…10). It is a rarely collected species, most frequently found in sphagnum bogs, boreal spruce forests, or open-tundra vegetation but occasionally in tall grass prairie, mixed deciduous, and aspen forests It is found at carrion, rotting mushrooms, and in mammal nests (Peck and Cook 2002). Catops americanus was reported by Peck and Cook (2002) from Nova Scotia, but not from New Brunswick (Fig 10).…”

“…It is a rarely collected species, most frequently found in sphagnum bogs, boreal spruce forests, or open-tundra vegetation but occasionally in tall grass prairie, mixed deciduous, and aspen forests It is found at carrion, rotting mushrooms, and in mammal nests (Peck and Cook 2002). Catops americanus was reported by Peck and Cook (2002) from Nova Scotia, but not from New Brunswick (Fig 10). It was formerly listed as occurring in New Brunswick in Peck (1991), however, this was prior to the description of the very similar C. paramericanus (Peck and Cook 2002), which is recorded as occurring in New Brunswick.…”

“…Presumably, earlier reports of C. americanus from New Brunswick are now ascribable to C. paramericanus. It is found at carrion and by sifting litter in deciduous forests and in mammal nests (Peck and Cook 2002).…”