Acrotona sphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster

Webster, Reginald P., Klimaszewski, Jan, Bourdon, Caroline, Sweeney, Jon D., Hughes, Cory C. & Labrecque, Myriam, 2016, Further contributions to the Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) fauna of New Brunswick and Canada including descriptions of 27 new species, ZooKeys 573, pp. 85-216 : 94-95

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Acrotona sphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster sp. n. Figs 42-49

Holotype (male).

Canada, New Brunswick, New Maryland, Charters Settlement, 45.8285°N, 66.7365°W, 21.V.2006, R.P. Webster, coll. // Mature eastern white cedar & red spruce forest, in moss & litter (1 ♂, LFC). Paratypes: Canada, New Brunswick, Charlotte Co., Hwy 3 at Deadwater Brook, 45.4745°N, 67.1225°W, 23.IV.2006, R.P. Webster, coll. // Black spruce forest, in sphagnum (1 ♀, LFC; 2 ♂, 3 ♀, RWC); same data but 3.VI.2005 // Black spruce forest, in moist sphagnum (1 ♂, RWC); S of Little Pocologan River, 45.15365°N, 66.62687°W, 7.V.2007, R.P. Webster coll. // Black spruce and tamarack bog, in litter and moss on “moose” trail (1 sex undetermined, LFC). Restigouche Co., Jacquet River Gorge PNA, 47.8189°N, 65.9952°W, 25.VI.2008, R.P. Webster, coll. // Eastern white cedar swamp with black spruce, in moist sphagnum (1 ♀, RWC); NE of jct. Little Tobique R. & Red Br., 47.4501°N, 67.0577°W, 24.V.2007, R.P. Webster, coll. // Old-growth eastern white cedar swamp, in moist sphagnum (1 ♂, 1 ♀, RWC). York Co., Manner’s Sutton, Upper Brockway, 45.5684°N, 67.0993°W, 23.IV.2006, R.P. Webster, coll. // Forested black spruce bog, in sphagnum (1 ♀, RWC).

Etymology.

Sphagnorum is a Latin adjective derived from the generic name of Sphagnum sp., a dominant plant in most of the habitats where this species was found.

Description.

Body length 2.3 mm, moderately narrow, uniformly dark brown except for reddish legs and two small yellowish-red areas on each elytron near suture (Fig. 42); integument strongly glossy, densely punctate and pubescent, pubescence short and adhering to body; head round, about one-fourth narrower than pronotum, rounded posteriorly with eyes shorter than postocular area; antennae with articles V–X transverse; pronotum shield-shaped, transverse, much broader than elytra at base; elytra shorter than pronotum; abdomen tapering apically. Male. Median lobe of ae deagus with bulbus broad, oval, tubus narrowly triangular in dorsal view (Fig. 43), straight ventrally in lateral view (Fig. 44); internal sac structures as illustrated (Figs 43, 44); tergite VIII emarginate apically (Fig. 45); sternite VIII elongate, rounded apically, slightly sinuate at base (Fig. 46). Female. Tergite VIII slightly emarginate (Fig. 47); sternite VIII rounded apically (Fig. 48); spermatheca with club-shaped capsule and coiled stem (Fig. 49).

Distribution.

Known only from NB, Canada.

Natural history.

This species was found in moist sphagnum in forested black spruce bogs, and in eastern white cedar swamps and forests. One individual was found in moss and litter in a moose ( Alces alces ) trail through a black spruce and tamarack ( Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch) bog. Adults were collected during April, May, and June.

Comments.

This species is distinct externally because of its shield-shaped pronotum, which is slightly wider than the elytra, which contributes to a habitus that is somewhat similar to species of Mocyta . It may be distinguished from all other Nearctic Acrotona , by the unique shape of its genital structures, including male and female tergite VIII.