Acylomus pugetanus Casey, 1916

Majka, Christopher, Gimmel, Matthew & Langor, David, 2008, The Phalacridae (Coleoptera, Cucujoidea) of Canada: new records, distribution, and bionomics with a particular focus on the Atlantic Canadian fauna, ZooKeys 2 (2), pp. 209-220 : 215-216

Acylomus pugetanus Casey, 1916

NEWFOUNDLAND: Labrador ( Guillebeau 1894; see note below). NOVA SCOTIA: Colchester Co.: Bible Hill , 19.VII.2005, A. Mills, pasture, (1, DAL) ; Bible Hill , 10.VI.2004, 22.VII.2004, 5.VIII.2004, 31.V.2005, K. Aikens, pasture, (4, CBU) ; Bible Hill , 18.VIII.2005, S.M. Townsend, pasture, (1, CBU) ; Truro , no date or collector information, (1, NSAC) ; Cumberland Co.: WestchesterLondonderry, 20.VII.1992, S. and J. Peck, forest road, car net, (7, JCC) ; Guysborough Co.: Trafalgar , 19.VII.1992, S. and J. Peck, car net, (15, JCC) ; Halifax Co.: Upper Tantallon , 17.VII.1992, S. and J. Peck, car net, (1, JCC) ; Queens Co.: Medway River , 13.VII.1993, J. and T. Cook, car net, (3, JCC) ; Shelburne Co.: Clyde River Rd. , 16.VII.1992, J. and T. Cook, forest, car net, (7, JCC) ; Sebim Beach , 19.vii, 1993, J. and T. Cook, (1, JCC) ; Yarmouth Co.: Carleton, Perry Rd. , 22.VIII.1992, 18.VII.1993, J. and T. Cook, car net, (2, JCC) ; Quinlan, Coldstream Rd. , 19.VII.1993, J. and T. Cook, car net, (1, JCC) .

Acylomus pugetanus is newly recorded in Atlantic Canada ( Fig. 3 ). In Canada it has previously been recorded from Manitoba east to Québec ( Campbell 1991) and in the United States from Maine and Washington state south to Virginia, Arkansas, Utah, and Oregon ( Steiner and Singh 1987). Adults and larvae of A. pugetanus feed on the sclerotia of ergot fungi ( Claviceps spp., Clavicipitaceae ) found growing on grains and wild grasses such as wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), rye ( Secale cereale L.), quack grass ( Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.), meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis Huds. ), and salt-meadow grass ( Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. ) ( Poaceae ) ( Steiner and Singh 1987). Consequently they occur in open habitats where such grasses grow. In Nova Scotia many specimens have been collected in pastures. Th ere has been some interest in this species in relation to agriculture, both as a potential biocontrol agent of ergot, as well as a potential vector of the disease ( Steiner and Singh 1987). The many specimens collected by car nets in Nova Scotia indicate that they fly well and actively disperses aerially. Th is species has not been recorded in New Brunswick but in all probability occurs there.

Note: based on a single specimen, Guillebeau (1894) described Eustilbus borealis , whose type locality is “Labrador.” Matthew Gimmel has examined this specimen (MNHN) and it is an Acylomus , almost certainly A. pugetanus . Matthew Gimmel is presently working on a revision of the Phalacridae of North America, and the nomenclatural issue that this specimen raises will be addressed in the context of this larger revision.

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution of Acylomus pugetanus Casey and Stilbus apicalis (Melsheimer) in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Note: the Labrador record of A. pugetanus is not indicated.