Lordithon (Lordithon) axillaris (Gravenhorst, 1806)**

Webster, Reginald P., Sweeney, Jon D. & DeMerchant, Ian, 2012, New Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) records with new collection data from New Brunswick and eastern Canada: Tachyporinae, ZooKeys 186, pp. 55-82 : 71

Lordithon (Lordithon) axillaris (Gravenhorst, 1806)** Map 21

Material examined.

New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Hovey Hill P.N.A., 46.1115°N, 67.7770°W, 19.VIII.2004, R. P. Webster, mature hardwood forest, on Pleurotus sp. on side of log (1 ♂, 1 ♀, RWC); Meduxnekeag River Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1940°N, 67.6800°W, 23.VI.2006, 3.VII.2006, R. P. Webster, mixed forest, on Pleurotus sp on dead standing Populus sp. (2 ♂, RWC); Meduxnekeag River Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1878°N, 67.6705°W, 18.VIII.2008, R. P. Webster, hardwood forest,in large (orange) gilled mushrooms near base of dead standing beech tree (2 ♂, 3 ♀, RWC, NBM); same locality but 46.1887°N, 67.6735°W, 18.VI.2010, R. P. Webster, hardwood forest, in Laetiporus sulphureus (1, RWC).

Collection and habitat data.

Little was previously known about the habitat associations of this rare species. One specimen from Quebec was collected from large gilled mushrooms on the side of a log ( Campbell 1982). Four specimens of this species were collected from Pleurotus sp. mushrooms on the side of Populus logs in a hardwood forest in Saint-Raphaël (15.VII.2006), Quebec (Webster, unpublished). Most specimens from New Brunswick were collected from Pleurotus sp. mushrooms on standing dead Populus sp. trees or on the side of logs in mature hardwood forests with sugar maple and beech. Some adults were also collected from a large orange-gilled mushroom on the side of a log. One individual was collected from inside a Laetiporus sulphureus (Fr.) Murr. (Polyporaceae). These data suggest that this species may be specialized on Pleurotus sp. and other large gilled mushrooms that grow on standing dead trees or logs. Campbell (1982) suggested that this species, like Lordithon niger and the European Lordithon bicolor (Gravenhorst), may be associated with old-growth hardwood forests. Adults of Lordithon axillaris were collected during June, July, and August in New Brunswick.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

QC, NB ( Campbell 1982).