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Introduced Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Christopher G. Majka*
Affiliation:
Nova Scotia Museum, 1747 Summer Street, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3A6
Jan Klimaszewski
Affiliation:
Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 de P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec, Quebec, Canada G1V 4C7
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca).

Abstract

The fauna of introduced rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada 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.

Résumé

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 nouvelles mentions en Nouvelle-Écosse, 16 à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, et 10 au Nouveau Brunswick pour un total de 51 nouvelles mentions provinciales. Parmi celles-ci, 15 espèces, 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), sont de nouvelles mentions pour les Provinces Maritimes. Deux, Atheta (Microdota) amicula et Carpelimus subtilis, sont nouvelle mention au Canada. Leptacinus intermedius est retirée de la liste faunique du Nouveau Brunswick et Philhygra botanicarum Muona, une espèce Holarctique autrefois considérée comme étant introduite en Amérique du Nord, est mentionnée pour la première fois dans les Provinces Maritimes. Une étude portant sur le moment de leur première observation dans la région révèle que, celle-ci était en moyenne substantiellement plus tardive que les dates comparables pour d’autres familles mieux connues de Coléoptères — une indication apparente d’un manque de considération pour cette famille. Quelques espèces semblent avoir été introduites en cale sèche alors que d’autres sont synanthropiques et pourraient avoir été introduites par inadvertance au moyen de l’agriculture, l’horticulture, ou d’autres procédés associés à l’activité humaine. Une population substancielle est maintenant établie et bien distribuée, indiquant selon toute apparence sois une introduction précoce dans la région, ou sois une habileté à coloniser des habitats efficacement et de s’y disperser, ou une combinaison de ces facteurs. D’autres espèces sont distribuées localement, indiquant peut-être une introduction plus récente, une tolérance écologique plus restreinte, une moins bonne habileté à se disperser, ou encore une combinaison de ces facteurs. Ces découvertes récentes sont brièvement discutées dans un contexte qui considère l’importance des recherches taxonomiques et d’une surveillance continue, de façon à pouvoir détecter et identifier les espèces exotiques, surveiller les nouvelles introductions et les changements dans les populations indigènes existantes ou introduites — tous important pour permettre d’évaluer les risques et les impacts des introductions sur la faune et les habitats d’origine.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2008

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