Gnathoncus barbatus Bousquet & Laplante, 1999

Webster, Reginald P., Makepeace, Scott, DeMerchant, Ian & Sweeney, Jon D., 2012, New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Histeridae, ZooKeys 179, pp. 11-26 : 13-14

Gnathoncus barbatus Bousquet & Laplante, 1999 Map 3

Material examined.

New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Benton, 45.9961°N, 67.5864°W, 24.V.2007, Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest in natural tree cavity (1, RWC). Queens Co., Pleasant Villa, 45.7023°N, 66.1732°W, 15.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest in natural tree cavity (4, RWC, NBM); McAlpines near Upper Hampstead Rd., 45.7250°N, 66.1200°W, 3.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest in natural tree cavity (4, RWC, NBM); Rees, near Grand Lake, 46.0016°N, 65.9466°W, 29.V.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in nest contents of barred owl in an artificial nest box (8, NBM). Sunbury Co., Noonan, 45.9923°N, 66.4099°W, 2.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl from tree hole 7 m high in red maple, damp organic material with small bones (1, NBM);Acadia Research Forest, 45.9866°N, 66.3841°W, 2-9.VI.2009, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère, mature (100 year-old) red spruce forest with scattered red maple and balsam fir, Lindgren funnel trap (1, AFC). Westmorland Co., Sackville near Ogden Mill, 45.9216°N, 64.3893°W, 12.V.2006, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in great horned owl nest (2, RWC, NBM). York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8428°N, 66.7278°W, in decayed mushrooms, 16.IX.2004, R. P. Webster (1, RWC); Keswick Ridge, 46.0040°N, 66.8776°W, 23.V.2006, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest in natural tree cavity (2, RWC, NBM); Pokiok Settlement (String Bog), 45.9101°N, 67.1235°W, 26.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest in natural tree cavity (1, RWC); Marysville, 45.9750°N, 66.5700°W, 22.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest, with dry organic material and remains of squirrel, birds, and insect parts (4, RWC, NBM).

Collection and habitat data.

Little information was previously known about the habitat and biology of this species. Bousquet and Laplante (2006) reported one specimen from porcupine ( Erethizon dorsatum (L.)) dung piled in a cavity at the base of an old sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.). Most specimens from New Brunswick were collected from nest material of barred owl nests (most with chicks) in natural cavities in trees or in artificial nest boxes. Others were collected from a great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus Gmelin) nest, decaying mushrooms, and a Lindgren funnel trap. This species is probably associated with birds and possibly mammals that nest in tree cavities. The nest contents of the barred owls and great horned owl contained decaying animal remains, and often many Diptera larvae were present on which the predaceous histerid adults and larvae were probably feeding. Adults were collected during May, June, and September.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

BC, AB, ON, QC, NB, NS ( Bousquet and Laplante 2006).