Philonthus leechensis Hatch, 1957

Brunke, Adam J. & Marshall, Stephen A., 2011, Contributions to the faunistics and bionomics of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in northeastern North America: discoveries made through study of the University of Guelph Insect Collection, Ontario, Canada, ZooKeys 75, pp. 29-68 : 48-49

Philonthus leechensis Hatch, 1957

Materials.

CANADA: PEI: Brackley Beach, National Park, milieu marécageux (=marshy environment), 2-VIII-1979, R. Sexton, (3).

Diagnosis.

Philonthus leechensis may be recognized among other northeastern Philonthus except for Philonthus umbrinoides Smetana 1995 by the combination of: pronotum with five punctures in the dorsal row on at least one side; temples without a carina; tergite eight not emarginate in either sex; elytra without distinct markings on the disc; hind tarsus with first segment shorter than last segment; legs completely dark. From Philonthus umbrinoides it can be differentiated by the distinct, obtuse hind angles of the head.

This species was previously known from Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Manitoba, Minnesota, Montana, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Oregon, Québec, Saskatchewan, Washington, Wisconsin, and Yukon Territory ( Smetana 1995). Herein we newly record it from Prince Edward Island, representing only the fifth locality known in northeastern North America (Map 31). Philonthus leechensis appears to be a hygrophilous species, occurring mostly in northern or montane wetlands. It remains unrecorded in the eastern United States.