Agathidium fawcettae Miller and Wheeler, 2005

Majka, Christopher & Langor, David, 2008, The Leiodidae (Coleoptera) of Atlantic Canada: new records, faunal composition, and zoogeography, ZooKeys 2 (2), pp. 357-402 : 378

Agathidium fawcettae Miller and Wheeler, 2005

NEW BRUNSWICK: Northumberland Co.: Tabusintac , 19.VI.1939, 20.VI.1939, W.J. Brown, (2, CNC) ; York Co.: Fredericton , 2.VII.1928, W.J. Brown, (1, CNC) ; Westmorland Co.: Shediac, 4.VII, 1939, W.J. Brown, (1, CNC). NOVA SCOTIA: One hundred and forty specimens were examined from Annapolis , Colchester , Cumberland , Guysborough , Halifax , Inverness , Lunenburg , Pictou , Queens , Victoria , and Yarmouth counties. The earliest record is from 1929 ( Colchester Co. : Portapique , 25.VIII.1929, C.A. Frost, (1, CNC)) .

Agathidium fawcettae is newly recorded in New Brunswick. It was reported from Nova Scotia by Miller and Wheeler (2005) ( Fig. 6 ). It was collected throughout the year in coniferous and deciduous forests from a wide variety of litter types. In Nova Scotia, it was found in variously aged deciduous forests (red maple, red oak, birch), in coniferous forests (red spruce, black spruce, hemlock, balsam fir), and in mixed and coastal forests. It was collected with flight-intercept traps, pitfall traps, and by hand collecting. There is one record from leaf litter, and one specimen found in a decomposing red spruce log. Recorded hosts include the slime molds Fulgio septica (L.) Wigg., Physarum viride (Bull.) Pers. , Leocarpus fragilis (Dicks.) Rost. , Hemitrichia clavata (Pers.) Rostaf. , and Badhamia sp. ( Miller and Wheeler 2005).

Prior to the description of this species, several specimens in this series had been identified as Agathidium exiguum Melsheimer. These two species can only be reliably separated on the basis of the features of male genitalia. All the males examined and micro-dissected as part of this study proved to be A. fawcettae . Accordingly, the present authors conclude that there is no evidence that A. exiguum occurs in the region. Miller and Wheeler (2005) reported A. exiguum in North America east to Ontario and north to New Hampshire.

Figures

Fig. 6. Distribution of Agathidium atronitens, Agathidium depressum, Agathidium difforme, Agathidium fawcettae, Agathidium oniscoides, and Agathidium rusticum in Atlantic Canada.