Alevonota gracilenta (Erichson, 1839) Erichson, 1839

Brunke, Adam J., Klimaszewski, Jan, Dorval, Julie-Anne, Bourdon, Caroline, Paiero, Steven M. & Marshall, Stephen A., 2012, New species and distributional records of Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Ontario, Canada, with a checklist of recorded species, ZooKeys 186, pp. 119-206 : 142

Alevonota gracilenta (Erichson, 1839) New North American Record Figs 49132-134Map 49 spermatheca in Assing and Wunderle (2008)

Material examined.

CANADA: ON:Waterloo Reg.,Blair, Whistle Bare Rd. and Township Rd.1, 43.372 -80.362, soybean field, pitfall trap, 29.vi.2010, A. Brunke, 2 (DEBU); Wellington Co.,Eramosa, hedgerow, pitfall, 4.v.2010, A. Brunke, 1 (DEBU), same data except: 13.vii.2010, 1 (DEBU), Guelph, hedgerow, pitfall, 19.v.2009, 1 (DEBU), same data except: 1.ix.2009, 1 (DEBU).

Distribution.

Canada: ON; widespread in western Palaearctic ( Assing and Wunderle 2008). Adventive in Canada.

Comments.

Alevonota gracilenta is recorded here for the first time in North America as an adventive species. It is rather easily recognized in North America by the narrow, linear habitus, small eyes and distinctive aedeagus with a long flagellum (Fig. 132).

Alevonota gracilenta apparently prefers a wide range of unforested habitats in its native range but is usually only collected in small numbers and using passive traps ( Assing and Wunderle 2008). It was suggested that known specimens represent dispersing individuals and that the real habitat preferences of this species remain unknown, but are possibly subterranean ( Assing and Wunderle 2008). The accidental introduction of this obscure Palaearctic species to North America is surprising and may be quite recent as all known specimens are from 2009-2010 and from two contiguous counties in southern Ontario. A specimen identified as Alevonota by G.A. Lohse from Colorado is deposited in the CNC (A. Davies pers. comm.) and study of this specimen may reveal that native Alevonota species occur in North America.