Atomaria lewisi Reitter, 1877

Majka, Christopher, Johnson, Colin & Langor, David, 2010, Contributions towards an understanding of the Atomariinae (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae) of Atlantic Canada, ZooKeys 35 (35), pp. 37-63 : 52-53

Atomaria lewisi Reitter, 1877

NEW BRUNSWICK: Albert Co.: Mary’s Pt. , September 8, 2002, C.G. Majka, old field, in compost (3, CGMC) ; NOVA SCOTIA: Cumberland Co.: Oxford , June 16, 1986, E. Georgeson (1, NSNR) ; Wentworth Park , July 12, 1993, J. & T. Cook, car net (5, JCC) ; Halifax : Pt. Pleasant Park, August 10, 2001, August 18, 2001, C.G. Majka, coniferous forest, boggy area, Spiraea alba (3, CGMC) ; Kings Co.: Kentville , August 10, 2005, D.H. Webster, compost, moldy corncobs (5, DHWC) ; Queens Co.: Caledonia , July 25, 1992, J. & F. Cook, interior mixed forest, car net (4, JCC) ; Medway River , July 13, 1993, J. & T. Cook, car net (1, JCC) ; Ponhook Lake nr. Greenfield , July 13, 1993, J. Cook, uv light trap (1, JCC) ; Richmond Co.: Louisdale , November 12, 1991, M. Boudreau (4, NSMC) ; Shelburne Co.: Clyde River Rd, July 16, 1992, S. & J. Peck, forest, car net (1, JCC) ; Yarmouth Co.: Carleton, Perry Rd. , August 22, 1992, J. & F. Cook, mixed forest, car net (7, JCC) ; Carleton, Perry Rd. , July 18, 1993, J. & T. Cook, car net (3, JCC) ; Coldstream Rd. E of Quinan, July 19, 1993, J. & T. Cook, car net (1, JCC) ; Hebron , June 4, 1999, J. Cook, on Hawthorne (1, JCC) ; north of North Kemptville , August 23, 1992, J. & F. Cook, car net (6, JCC) ; Wellington , July 11–12, 1997, J. Cook, uv light trap (3, JCC) ; Yarmouth-Shelburne Co.: Oak Park Rd. , August 27, 1992, J. & F. Cook, car net (9, JCC) .

We have examined the holotype of Atomaria curtula Casey 1900 deposited in the Smithsonian Institution and have found it to be identical in all respects to A. lewisi Reitter. We therefore designate A. curtula syn. n. as a junior synonym of A. lewisi .

Atomaria lewisi is newly reported in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Canada, and North America (Fig. 14). Under the name A. curtula it was reported from Connecticut, Ontario ( Casey 1900; Leng 1920; Bousquet 1991; Downie and Arnett 1996), and Maine ( Procter 1946). In the Palaearctic region it is found throughout Europe, the Russian Far East, Central Asia, Mongolia, China, Japan, and North Korea, south to Bhutan and northern India ( Johnson et al. 2007). Lohse (1967) called it an adventive species in Europe, and Johnson et al. (2007) referred to it as cosmopolitan. In Nova Scotia it has been found in coniferous and mixed forests, in boggy areas, on Craetegus sp. ( Rosaceae ), and on compost. Johnson (1993) reported that it was, “a grassland species which has been recorded especially around farms, gardens and parks but it often also occurs in other habitats. It has been collected in man-made heaps of refuse, especially cut vegetation, hay, grass, and compost.”

Description: Dorsum and venter brownish-yellow or reddish-yellow throughout, including legs. Head moderately densely, moderately finely punctate. Pronotum moderately densely and moderately coarsely punctate; interspaces 0.5 times the diameter of punctures; base with a distinct flattened depression. Elytra somewhat more finely and sparsely punctate; interspaces 1.0–1.5 times the diameter of punctures; elytral margins strongly rounded; setae rather long and prominently erect giving a “bristling” appearance (Fig. 7). Antennae: antennomere 1 long, swollen, and curved, apex nearly 1.5–2.0 times the width of base, 1.5 times longer than 2; 3 the same length as 2 but more slender; 4–8 almost equal in length and bead-like; club distinct; antennomeres 9 and 10 slightly transverse (Fig. 1.6). Body: width/length ratio, 0.46; length, 1.3–1.6 mm.