Mocyta sphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster

Klimaszewski, Jan, Webster, Reginald P., Bourdon, Caroline, Pelletier, Georges, Godin, Benoit & Langor, David W., 2015, Review of Canadian species of the genus Mocyta Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), with the description of a new species and a new synonymy, ZooKeys 487, pp. 111-139 : 126-130

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

6. Mocyta sphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster sp. n. Figs 8 a–h, Map 3

Holotype

(female). CANADA, New Brunswick, Restigouche Co., Berry Brook Protected Area, 47.81399°N, 66.75778°W, 26.V.2007, old-growth eastern white cedar swamp, in moss near brook, R.P. Webster (LFC).

Paratypes.

CANADA: Newfoundland: R.A. Squires Prov. Pk., 23.VII.1970, D.E. Bright (CNC) 1 male. New Brunswick, Charlotte Co., Hwy 3 at Deadwater Brook, 45.4745°N, 67.1225°W, 23.IV.2006, Black spruce forest in Sphagnum , R.P. Webster (LFC) 1 male, 1 female; Hwy 3 at Deadwater Brook, 45.4745°N, 67.1225°W, 23.IV.2006, Black spruce forest, in sphagnum, R.P. Webster, (RWC) 3 males, 1 female; Carleton Co., Wakefield, Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1935°N, 67.8825°W, 19.IV.2005, mixed forest in moist moss, R. Webster (RWC) 1 female; Belleville, Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1907°N, 67.6740°W, 4.V.2006, conifer forest area, in moldy conifer duff at base of large white pine, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female; "Two Mile Brook Fen", 46.3619°N, 67.6733°W, 5.VIII.2004, calcareous fen, in sphagnum moss & litter, J. Edsall & R. Webster (RWC) 1 sex undetermined; Restigouche Co., Berry Brook P.N.A., 47.81399°N, 66.75778°W, 26.V.2007, R.P. Webster // Old-growth eastern white cedar swamp, in moss near brook (RWC) 1 male. Ontario: 52 mi N Hurkett, Black Sturgeon Lake, 28.VI.1973, R. Parry and J.M. Campbell (LFC) 1 male; Mt. Tremblant Pk., 27.VI.1971, E.J. Kiteley (LFC) 1 female. Quebec: Gaspé Co., Mt-Albert, Sommet nord, 1000 m, 18.Vii.1985, sweeping field, F. Génier (LFC) 1 male.

Non-types.

Canada, New Brunswick: York Co., Canterbury Brown’s Mtn. Fen., 45.8965°N, 67.6344°W, 5.VIII.2004, mixed forest on decaying fungi, J. Ed sall and R. Webster (LFC) 1 sex unknown. Quebec: Gaspé Co., Mt-Jacques-Cartier, 24.VII.1985, caribou dung, F. Génier and J. Klimaszewski (LFC) 1 male.

Etymology.

The specific name sphagnorum is an adjective, which derives from the generic name of Sphagnum , in the genitive plural, meaning "of the Sphagnum plant", a dominant plant of the habitat where the species was found.

Diagnosis.

Body narrowly oval (Fig. 8a), length 2.4-2.7 mm; uniformly brown to almost black, legs and palps yellowish to reddish-brown and antennae uniformly light brown to brown; antennal articles I-IV elongate and V-X variable in length from subquadrate to slightly transverse (Figs 8a, e); pronotum transverse, variable in width, from slightly-to-distinctly broader than elytra [pronotum usually broader in females than in males, Fig. 8e], strongly rounded laterally, and arcuate basally; elytra transverse and slightly shorter than pronotum; abdomen broadly arcuate laterally and with strong macrosetae apically. MALE: median lobe of aedeagus as illustrated with distinct apical structures of median lobe (Fig. 8b); tergite VIII truncate apically (Fig. 8c); sternite VIII slightly produced and rounded apically and with numerous strong macrosetae in apical part of disc, space between base of disc and antecostal suture narrow, antecostal suture arcuate (Fig. 8d). FEMALE: spermatheca pear-shaped with small and shallow apical invagination, stem thin and irregularly coiled posteriorly (Fig. 8f); tergite and sternite VIII truncate apically (Figs 8g, h).

This species may be distinguishable from other Mocyta species by its large and dark brown to black pronotum, shape of spermatheca and apical structures of internal sac.

Distribution.

This nearctic species is known from Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.

Natural history.

In New Brunswick, adults were found in sphagnum moss and litter in calcareous eastern white cedar fens and in a black spruce forest. One individual was collected from moldy conifer duff at the base of a large pine in a mixed forest. Adults were found in April and May in New Brunswick, and June to August elsewhere. This species seems to be associated with moist sphagnum moss.