Sphindus trinifer Casey, 1898**

Webster, Reginald P., Sweeney, Jon D. & DeMerchant, Ian, 2012, New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Sphindidae, Erotylidae, Monotomidae, and Cryptophagidae, ZooKeys 179, pp. 169-192 : 172-173

Sphindus trinifer Casey, 1898** Map 3

Material examined.

New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Jackson Falls, Bell Forest, 46.2200°N, 67.7231°W, 26.VI.2007, 25.VII.2007, R. P. Webster, mature hardwood forest, u.v. light (2, NBM, RWC); same locality and forest type, 4-12.VI.2008, R. P. Webster, Lindgren funnel trap (1, RWC); same locality and habitat data but 9-14.V.2009, 14-20.V.2009, 8-16.VI.2009, 16-21.VI.2009, Webster & M.-A. Giguère, Lindgren funnel traps (4, AFC, RWC). Charlotte Co., 10 km NW of New River Beach, 45.2110°N, 66.6170°W, 16-26.VII.2010, R. Webster & C. MacKay, old growth eastern white cedar forest, Lindgren funnel trap (1, AFC). Queens Co., Cranberry Lake P.N.A., 46.1125°N, 65.6075°W, 21-27.V.2009, 5-11.VI.2009, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère, old red oak forest, Lindgren funnel traps (5, AFC); Grand Lake Meadows P.N.A., 45.8227°N, 66.1209°W, 19-31.V.2010, R. Webster & C. MacKay, old silver maple forest with green ash and seasonally flooded marsh, Lindgren funnel trap (1, AFC); same locality data and forest type, 21.VI-5.VII.2011, M. Roy & V. Webster, Lindgren funnel trap (1, NBM). Restigouche Co., Dionne Brook P.N.A., 47.9030°N, 68.3503°W, 30.V-15.VI.2011, 9-23.VIII.2011, M. Roy & V. Webster, old-growth northern hardwood forest, Lindgren funnel traps (3, NBM, RWC). Sunbury Co., Acadia Research Forest, 45.9866°N, 66.3841°W, 19-25.V.2009, 25.V-2.VI.2009, 24-30.VI.2009, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère, mature (110-year-old) red spruce forest with scattered red maple and balsam fir, Lindgren funnel traps (6, AFC). York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 26.VII.2005, 11.VI.2007, R. P. Webster, mixed forest, u.v. light (4, RWC); same locality, habitat data, and collector but 23.IV.2008, collected during aerial flight between 15:00 to 18:00h (1, RWC); 15 km W of Tracy off Rt. 645, 45.6848°N, 66.8821°W, 8-15.VI.2009, 15-21.VI.2009, M.-A. Giguère, R. Webster, & V. Webster, old red pine forest, Lindgren funnel traps (4, AFC); 14 km WSW of Tracy, S of Rt. 645, 45.6741°N, 66.8661°W, 26.IV-10.V.2010, 10-26.V.2010, 30.VI-13.VII.2010, R. Webster C. MacKay & K. Burgess, old mixed forest with red and white spruce, red and white pine, balsam fir, eastern white cedar, red maple, and Populus sp., Lindgren funnel traps (5, AFC, RWC).

Collection and habitat data.

Adults were found in a mature hardwood forest with sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.), American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), white ash ( Fraxinus americana L.), and butternut ( Juglans cinerea L.), an old-growth northern hardwood forest with sugar maple and yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), an old silver maple ( Acer saccharinum L.) swamp, an old-growth red pine forest, a mature red spruce ( Picea rubens Sarg.) forest, an old eastern white cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) swamp/forest, and old mixed forests. This species was captured in Lindgren funnel traps at all sites where these traps were used. Adults were also collected during an evening flight (between 15:00 and 18:00 h), and at an ultraviolet light. Adults were collected during April, May, June, July, and August.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

ON, QC, NB ( Campbell 1991a). Casey (1898) used the number of antennal segments of the club to distinguish Sphindus trinifer (three-segmented club) from Sphindus americanus (two-segmented club) in his key to the American Sphindus species. However, Downie and Arnett (1996) and Majka (2010) used size and other characteristics such as color to separate Sphindus americanus (1.5 to 2.5 mm in length) from Sphindus trinifer (1.7 mm in length). These characteristics are variable in these two species and are, therefore, unreliable for use in distinguishing these species. The specimens reported above all possess a three-segmented club, a character of Sphindus trinifer . The adults from New Brunswick are, on average, larger (ranging from 1.7 to 2.0 mm in length) than the 1.7 mm given for the type specimen of Sphindus trinifer (from Toronto, Canada) in Casey’s original description. The specimens otherwise agree with the original description of Sphindus trinifer . Interestingly, Sphindus americanus was reported by Majka (2010) to be common and widespread in Nova Scotia. However, the specimen illustrated in his paper possesses a three-segmented club, a character of Sphindus trinifer . The Nova Scotia specimens should be re-examined to confirm their identity.

Figures

Map 3. Collection localities in New Brunswick, Canada of Sphindus trinifer.