Meotica exilis (Knoch, 1806)

Majka, Christopher & Klimaszewski, Jan, 2008, Adventive Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada: further contributions, ZooKeys 2 (2), pp. 151-174 : 156-157

Meotica exilis (Knoch, 1806)

NOVA SCOTIA: Colchester Co.: Shubenacadie, 2.VI.2006, J. Ogden, flight-intercept trap, (1 female, NSNR) (1 male, LFC) ; Halifax Co.: Point Pleasant Park, 6.V.2003, C.G. Majka, coniferous forest, under bark of dead Pinus strobus , (1 female, CGMC) (1 male, LFC) ; Hants Co.: Frenchman’s Cave, 2.VII.1998, M. Moseley, gypsum sinkhole, (1 male, CGMC).

These represent the first verifiable records of this species in North America (see below) ( Fig. 1 ). The specimens collected in Point Pleasant Park were found in scolytine galleries under the bark of a dead white pine ( Pinus strobus L., Pinaceae ). Co-inhabiting Coleoptera included Nudobius cephalus (Say, 1834) (Staphylinidae) ; and Polygraphus rufipennis ( Kirby, 1837) and Pityophthorus cariniceps LeConte, 1876 ( Curculionidae : Scolytinae ). Th e specimen at Frenchman’s Cave was collected in a wet, mossy area in a gypsum sinkhole.

Muona (1991, 239) wrote, “Small aleocharine species are often regarded as difficult to identify. However, it is doubtful (whether) there exists a species with a more confused history (than) that of Meotica exilis .” Prior reports of its presence in North America have proven to be no exception to this rule.

It appears to have first been reported in North America by Leng (1920) followed by Bernhauer and Scheerpeltz (1926). Th ese specimens were examined by Seevers (1978: 79) who wrote, “Th e record of Meotica exilis Erichson (a European species) in Maine (E. Machias, and Wales) is probably (emphasis added) a valid one. I examined the specimens in the Bernhauer collection on which the record was based and found that they do belong to Meotica , and are probably (emphasis added) exilis . These specimens probably (emphasis added) represent an introduction.” Muona (1984: 228) did not accept the validity of this record noting that, “ Meotica is a

difficult genus with many species and Seevers’ (1978) statement is quite vague.” Muona (1984) also pointed out that specimens identified as Meotica exilis by Fenyes from Pasadena, California (deposited in various European collections and at the FMNH), are in fact a species of the genus Thecturota, Casey. Despite this tenuous or erroneous evidence, M. exilis has continued to be included in the North America fauna in such recent compendiums as Ashe (2000).

The Bernhauer collection is now deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH). Margaret Th ayer kindly checked the collection and wrote (pers. comm.) that she was able to find one pin with the label: “E. Machias,/ Me.// June//[white circle]// exilis Grvh. /Fenyes /det. Bernhauer//Chicago NHMus/M.Bernhauer/”. The text in boldface is in Bernhauer’s writing, apparently relaying Fenyes as the source of the specimen, the identification, or perhaps both. However, there is no longer any specimen on the pin; the card point has been cut off. There is also no specimen from “ Wales, Maine” in the FMNH collection and the present disposition of this specimen is unknown.

Thus, all prior reports of this species in North America appear to have been based on misidentifications, or can no longer be verified because voucher specimens can no longer be located. Th erefore, the present specimens from Nova Scotia constitute the first verifiable records of this species on the continent.

The authority of the specific name of M. exilis has also been in doubt. It has been referred to as M. exilis (Erichson, 1839: 333) (see Leng 1920; Bernhauer and Scheerpeltz 1926; Moore and Legner 1975); and M. exilis (Gravenhorst, 1806) ( Seevers 1978; Smetana 2004a). Muona (1991), however, argued that the species should be called M. exilis (Knoch in Gravenhorst, 1806: 153) . Although Gravenhorst cited many Knoch manuscript names without crediting Knoch (thus making Gravenhorst the author), the case of M. exilis is an exception to the rule because Gravenhorst explicitly credited Knoch with the description.

Meotica exilis is found throughout Europe and northern Asia. It occurs in many kinds of moist situations, preferring rich soils and frequenting shores with dense vegetation and is abundant in leaf-litter under Salix bushes and has been collected in Sphagnum bogs ( Muona 1991). A dorsal habitus photograph is provided in Fig. 3 . For illustrations of the genitalia see Klimaszewski et al. (2007).

Figures

Fig. 1. Distribution of Ilyobates bennetti, Meotica exilis, Meotica “pallens,” Lathrobium fulvipenne, and Oxytelus sculptus in eastern Canada.

Fig. 3. Dorsal habitus photograph of Meotica exilis. Scale = 1 mm.