The Mordellidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime provinces of Canada

2006 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Majka ◽  
John A. Jackman
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Historical Forest ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe Mordellidae of the Maritime provinces of Canada is surveyed. Thirty species have now been recorded from the region. Of these, 17 are newly recorded for Nova Scotia, 11 are newly recorded for Prince Edward Island, and 7 are newly recorded for New Brunswick, for a total of 35 new provincial records. Three species, Mordellistena indistincta Smith, Mordellistena rubrifascia Liljeblad, and Mordellistena rubrilabris Helmuth, are newly recorded for Canada, while a further 11 species, Mordella melaena Germar, Mordellistena aspersa (Melsheimer), Mordellistena errans Fall, Mordellistena morula LeConte, Mordellistena picilabris Helmuth, Mordellistena sericans Fall, Mordellistena vilis (LeConte), Mordellina ancilla (LeConte), Mordellina nigricans (Melsheimer), Mordellina pustulata (Melsheimer), and Glipostenoda ambusta (LeConte), are newly recorded for Atlantic Canada. One subspecies, Mordella atrata lecontei Csiki, is removed from the region's faunal listing. The composition of the region's fauna as a whole, and related biogeographic questions, are briefly discussed. The Mordellidae are also discussed in the context of forest beetle communities in the region and the impact of historical forest management practices on old-growth specialist species.

scholarly journals The Derodontidae, Dermestidae, Bostrichidae, and Anobiidae of the Maritime Provinces of Canada (Coleoptera: Bostrichiformia)

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1573 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Dinoderus Minutus ◽  
Saproxylic Species ◽  
Faunal List ◽  
Wood Boring

The beetle families of the Bostrichiformia—the Derodontidae, Dermestidae, Bostrichidae, and Anobiidae – in the Maritime Provinces of Canada are surveyed. Seventy-four native and established introduced species are now known to occur including 30 found in New Brunswick, 65 in Nova Scotia, and 29 on Prince Edward Island. Seven species are newly recorded from New Brunswick, 24 from Prince Edward Island, and 37 from Nova Scotia for a total of 68 new provincial records. A total of 31 species are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces as a whole, three of which, Dinoderus minutus (Fabricius), Ernobius filicornis LeConte, and Ernobius granulatus LeConte, are newly recorded in Canada. Two species, Ptilinus pruinosus Casey and Caenocara oculata (Say), are removed from the faunal list of New Brunswick, and one subspecies, Attagenus unicolor unicolor (Brahm), is removed from the faunal list of Prince Edward Island since no specimens or published records could be found to support their presence.        Additional records of six other exotic species intercepted at ports and points in the region, but not established here, are also reported. A specimen of the Palearctic Ptinus bicinctus Sturm collected in 1915 in Nova Scotia, establishes a new early timeline for this species in North America. The fauna of the region is distinguished by the very large proportion (37 of 74 species, i.e. 50%) of which is introduced. It is also distinguished by the large proportion (22 of 37 species, i.e. 60%) of the indigenous, native fauna that is apparently rare, perhaps as a result of the historical impact of forest management practices on these wood-boring, saproxylic species. The fauna is further evaluated from both zoogeographic and ecological perspectives.

The Eucnemidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada: new records, observations on composition and zoogeography, and comments on the rarity of saproxylic beetles

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1636 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Saproxylic Beetles ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
The Family ◽  
History Of

The Family Eucnemidae in the Maritime Provinces of Canada is surveyed. Eleven species are now known from the region. Ten species are recorded in Nova Scotia, six in New Brunswick, and four on Prince Edward Island. Nine new provincial records (four from Nova Scotia, four from Prince Edward Island, and one from New Brunswick) are reported, and two species, Microrhagus triangularis (Say) and Nematodes penetrans (LeConte), are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. The four species reported from Prince Edward Island are the first records of the family Eucnemidae from the province. The composition of the fauna is in broad agreement with that of northeastern North America. The faunas on Prince Edward and Cape Breton Islands are diminished with respect to the mainland, but are more robust than that of other saproxylic groups. Many species of eucnemids have been very infrequently collected and may actually be rare. In this regard eucnemids are similar to many other groups of saproxylic beetles, although they are proportionately even less abundant than many other groups. A variety of studies that have reported on this phenomenon have pointed to the history of forest management in the region as potential being responsible for this scarcity. The eucnemids in this region are almost entirely associated with deciduous trees. The history of forest management in the Maritime Provinces, as well as that of introduced forest diseases, is such as to have had a major impact on the composition and structure hardwood forests, and hence potentially on insects such as eucnemids which are reliant on these hosts. Consequently further research is urged in order to better ascertain their status, and to develop appropriate conservation measures for these important indicator species of diverse forest structure.

The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada: new records, biogeographic notes, and conservation concerns

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1154 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA ◽  
DAVID B. MCCORQUODALE
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
New England ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
New Records ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Adventive Species ◽  
Disjunct Populations

New records of Coccinellidae in the Maritime Provinces of Canada are reported. The known fauna of the region consists of 47 species: 41 in Nova Scotia, 39 in New Brunswick, and 21 in Prince Edward Island. Of these, records are provided for 13 species newly recorded from Nova Scotia and 14 from Prince Edward Island. Two species, Diomus amabilis (LeConte) and Naemia seriata seriata Melsheimer, are newly recorded in Canada. Didion punctatum (Melsheimer) is removed from the fauna of PEI, and Coccidula lepida LeConte is removed from the fauna of NS, and Scymnus impexus Mulsant is removed from the faunas of NS and NB. Records of two adventive species not established in the region are also reported. Collecting effort in the three provinces and their sub-regions is briefly analyzed and compared. Biogeographic observations are provided in relation to the composition of the fauna as a whole, and of disjunct populations of six Nova Scotia coccinellids, several of which appear to be members of a coastal plain fauna that extends from New England to southern Nova Scotia. The potential vulnerability of the coccinellid fauna is discussed in the context of both adventive species in the region, and habitat loss and conservation.

The Erotylidae and Endomychidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada: New records, zoogeography, and observations on beetle-fungi relationships and forest health

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1546 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
New Records ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Prince Edward Islands ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
History Of

The Erotylidae and Endomychidae of the Maritime Provinces are surveyed. Fifteen species are now known from the region, fourteen in Nova Scotia, seven in New Brunswick, and four on Prince Edward Island. Thirteen new provincial records (seven from Nova Scotia, three from New Brunswick, and three from Prince Edward Island) are reported. Four erotylids, Dacne quadrimaculata (Say), Triplax dissimulator (Crotch), Triplax flavicollis Lacordaire, Triplax macra LeConte; and two endomychids, Rhanidea unicolor (Ziegler) and Lycoperdina ferruginea LeConte, are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. New records of the rare endomychid, Hadromychus chandleri Bousquet & Leschen, are reported. The fauna is examined in a regional zoogeographic context, paying particular attention to the insular faunas of Cape Breton and Prince Edward Islands. Attention is also drawn to the number of species that have been very rarely collected. This apparent scarcity may be related to the long history of forest management in the region, in particular the effects of intensive forestry on the communities of forest fungi on which these species feed and depend. Attention is drawn to the importance of ongoing research to monitor their populations and assess how these species may be employed as indicators of the overall health forest ecosystems.

Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada

2008 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
pp. 690-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Majka ◽  
Patrice Bouchard ◽  
Yves Bousquet
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
North America ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Trophic Group ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe Tenebrionidae of the Maritime Provinces of Canada are surveyed. Forty-eight species have been reported from the region. Eleven of these species (ten Palearctic and one Nearctic) have been introduced to the region, five of which are apparently now extirpated. Dates of first detection of these species are provided for each province and North America. Thirteen species are newly recorded in New Brunswick, 25 in Nova Scotia, and 15 on Prince Edward Island, for a total of 53 new provincial records. Of these, 18 species including Bolitophagus corticola Say, Neatus tenebrioides (Palisot de Beauvois), Helops gracilis Bland, Blapstinus substriatus Champion, Hymenorus obesus Casey, Hymenorus picipennis Casey, Hymenorus pilosus (Melsheimer), Mycetochara bicolor (Couper), Mycetochara binotata (Say), Mycetochara fraterna (Say), Platydema excavatum (Say), Platydema teleops Triplehorn, Corticeus praetermissus (Fall), Alobates pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), Haplandrus fulvipes (Herbst), Xylopinus saperdioides (Olivier), an undescribed species of Paratenetus Spinola, and an undescribed species of Neatus LeConte are newly recorded for the Maritime Provinces as a whole. One of these, Helops gracilis, is recorded for the first time in Canada. The fauna is discussed from the perspective of the patterns of distribution of species in the region and their possible underlying causes. Island faunas are discussed, as is the saproxylic component of the fauna, with a brief consideration of the importance of this trophic group in the dynamics of forest ecosystems in the region.

Introduced Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada

2008 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Majka ◽  
Jan Klimaszewski
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Rove Beetles ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Faunal List ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe fauna of introduced rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada is surveyed. Seventy-nine species have now been recorded. Of these, 73 have been found in Nova Scotia, 29 on Prince Edward Island, and 54 in New Brunswick. Twenty-five species are newly recorded in Nova Scotia, 16 on Prince Edward Island, and 10 in New Brunswick, for a total of 51 new provincial records. Of these, 15 species, Tachinus corticinus Gravenhorst, Mycetoporus lepidus (Gravenhorst), Habrocerus capillaricornis (Gravenhorst), Aleochara (Xenochara) lanuginosa Gravenhorst, Gnypeta caerulea (C.R. Sahlberg), Atheta (Microdota) amicula (Stephens), Cordalia obscura (Gravenhorst), Drusilla canaliculata (Fabricius), Deleaster dichrous (Gravenhorst), Coprophilus striatulus (Fabricius), Carpelimus subtilis (Erichson), Leptacinus intermedius Donisthorpe, Tasgius (Rayacheila) melanarius (Heer), Neobisnius villosulus (Stephens), and Philonthus discoideus (Gravenhorst), are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces. Two of these, Atheta (Microdota) amicula and Carpelimus subtilis, are newly recorded in Canada. Leptacinus intermedius is removed from the faunal list of New Brunswick and Philhygra botanicarum Muona, a Holarctic species previously regarded as introduced in North America, is recorded for the first time in the Maritime Provinces. An examination of when species were first detected in the region reveals that, on average, it was substantially later than comparable dates for other, better known families of Coleoptera — an apparent indication of the comparative lack of attention this family has received. Some introduced species appear to be associated with the dry-ballast mechanism of introduction to the continent, while others are synanthropic and may have been inadvertently introduced in connection with agriculture, horticulture, or other processes associated with human activities. A substantial number are now established and well distributed, seemingly indicative of an early introduction into the region, the ability to successfully colonize a habitat and disperse within it, or a combination of these factors. Other species appear to be local in distribution, perhaps indicative of more recent introductions, more restricted ecological tolerances, a lesser ability to disperse, or a combination of these factors. These recent discoveries are discussed briefly in the context of the importance of taxonomic research and ongoing monitoring in order to detect and identify exotic species and monitor for new introductions and changes in existing native or introduced populations — all important in terms of assessing the risk of introductions to, and their impact on, native faunas and habitats.

scholarly journals MINERALOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SOILS OF THE MARITIME PROVINCES

1958 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Brydon
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Clay Mineral ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Coarse Silt ◽  
Mineralogical Analysis ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Plagioclase Feldspar ◽  
Soil Clays

The mineralogy of the clay and coarse silt fractions of 31 Maritime soils with a few exceptions showed close similarities. The predominant clay mineral was illite and it was associated with chlorite, vermiculite and kaolinite. Significant amounts of montmorillonite occurred in only one soil, the Truro. Vermiculite appeared in all the surface soil clays, and mixed-layer assemblages of various 2:1 layer silicates, including chloritic components, were present in many of the clays.The silt fractions of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick soils contained substantial amounts of albite-type plagioclase feldspar in addition to quartz, chlorite and mica. The Prince Edward Island soils, except the Queens, differed in that they contained small amounts of a variety of feldspars.

MITES, TICKS, AND FLEAS OF THE MICE ZAPUS HUDSONIUS AND NAPAEOZAPUS INSIGNIS FROM THE MARITIME PROVINCES AND GASPÉ PENINSULA, QUEBEC, CANADA

1982 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. 1031-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwilym S. Jones ◽  
Howard H. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Napaeozapus Insignis ◽  
Gaspe Peninsula ◽  
Gaspé Peninsula

AbstractMites, ticks, and fleas were removed from the fur of 110 specimens of Zapus hudsonius (Zimmermann) from Prince Edward Island, coastal New Brunswick, and northern Nova Scotia. The species which were most abundant and the only ones which occurred on these mice throughout the area were Dermacarus newyorkensis, Neotrombicula harperi, Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, and Ixodes muris. Also examined were 47 specimens of Napaeozapus insignis (Miller) from the above provinces plus Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec. Dermacarus newyorkensis and Neotrombicula harperi were the most abundant ectoparasites. Neotrombicula harperi was the only ectoparasite which occurred on N. insignis throughout the region.

The Ciidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada: new records, distribution, zoogeography, and observations on beetle-fungi relationships in saproxylic environments

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1654 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
New Records ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Host Use ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Cape Breton

The Ciidae of the Maritime Provinces of Canada are surveyed. Fifteen species are now known to occur in the region, thirteen in Nova Scotia, six in New Brunswick, and two on Prince Edward Island. Ten new provincial records  are reported. Seven species including Ceracis sallei Mellié, Ceracis thoracicornis (Ziegler), Cis creberrimus Mellié, Cis pistoria Casey, Cis subtilis Mellié, Malacocis brevicollis (Casey), and Orthocis punctatus (Mellié) are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. Cis americanus Mannerheim and Cis levettei (Casey) are newly recorded on Prince Edward Island, the first records of this family from the province.Collecting effort on Cape Breton Island, Prince Edward Island, and in New Brunswick has apparently been insufficient to fully document the ciid fauna of these areas. Some local and regional distribution patterns of ciids in the mainland of Nova Scotia and in the Maritime Provinces are suggested from the present data, but further collecting is required to confirm these. Zoogeographically, most of the region's ciids are members of either a boreal fauna (9 species) with Holarctic affinities, or a southeastern North American Nearctic fauna (5 species). The Maritime Provinces ciid fauna has representatives of five of the six known ciid host-use groups. Records of host fungi indicate that there are suitable hosts for all species of ciids found in the region in all three Maritime Provinces, indicating that ciids in the region appear not to be limited by availability of suitable host-fungi. However, Cis horridulus Casey, Cis striolatus Casey, and Cis subtilis Mellié, the three species in the Trametes host-use group, are very infrequently collected and apparently rare.Forests in Maritime Provinces have been greatly affected by forestry and disease, and such activities are known to impact fungal communities. Consequently such practices could have important repercussions for groups like the Ciidae that are reliant on fungi as both a food source and a habitat

The ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada: review of collecting, new records, and observations on composition, zoogeography, and historical origins

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1590 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA ◽  
YVES BOUSQUET ◽  
SUSAN WESTBY
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
New Records ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Faunal List ◽  
Historical Origins

The Carabidae of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are surveyed. The collecting history of the family in the region is reviewed. New records of 20 species are reported, 6 from New Brunswick and 15 from Nova Scotia. Six species are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) as a whole. Six species are removed from the faunal list of Nova Scotia and one from the faunal list of New Brunswick. Consequently, 282 species of Carabidae are now known from Nova Scotia, 273 species from New Brunswick, and 329 from the Maritime Provinces as a whole. A new and earlier timeline (1942) is reported for the introduced Palearctic carabid, Bembidion properans (Stephens), in North America. The status of Stenolophus carbo Bousquet in the region is reviewed and its presence in Nova Scotia is considered doubtful. The historical origins of the Maritime fauna are discussed based on studies of post-glacial Coleoptera. These indicate at least three colonization phases, some elements of which are still apparent in the contemporary fauna. Elements of the native Nova Scotia fauna not found in New Brunswick (26 species), may represent colonization from New England across post-glacial land bridges and island chains. Elements of the native fauna found in New Brunswick and not Nova Scotia (31 species), may represent species that have reached the eastward limit of their distribution for climatic or environmental reasons; or that have found the Northumberland Strait and/or the isthmus of Chignecto an obstacle to geographical dispersal; or represent widely distributed boreal species (6 species) that should be sought in Nova Scotia. Eighteen species of Nova Scotia carabids have been recorded only from Cape Breton Island, two of which are known in Atlantic Canada solely from there. Although Cape Breton is separated from the mainland by the 1.5 km wide Strait of Canso, the number of flightless, native carabids present is proportionally greater than that in Nova Scotia overall, or the Maritime Provinces as a whole. Despite differences in land mass and distance to the neighbouring mainland, the faunas of Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and insular Newfoundland, exhibit similarities in size and composition, although Newfoundland's fauna has twice the proportion of Holarctic species. Cape Breton's carabid fauna is diminished compared to the neighbouring mainland, having only 57% of the native species. This may represent an island-associated diminution, the paucity of collecting, or a combination of both, although in comparison with other groups of Coleoptera the Carabidae appear relatively well represented. Within Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick has the lowest proportion (8.8%) of introduced carabids and the highest proportion (83.2%) of native, Nearctic species. Given the potential utility of carabids as bioindicators, and the wide range of disturbance to which the environment of the Maritime Provinces has been subjected, further research on this diverse group of beetles would be desirable.

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