Mocyta luteola (Erichson)

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 : 121-124

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

4. Mocyta luteola (Erichson) Figs 6 a–i, Map 1

Homalota luteola Erichson 1839: 114 [habitat in America septentrionalis, Dom. Zimmerman]; Bland 1865: 397; Blatchley 1910: 353; Moore and Legner 1975: 365. LECTOTYPE (male): USA: Am.[America] spt.[septentrionalis], Zimm. [Zimmerman]; #5432; Zool. Mus. Berlin.; typus; Lectotype male Homalota luteola Erichson, V.I. Gusarov des. 2003 [designation not published]; our lectotype designation label (ZMB) present designation. PARALECTOTYPES: labelled as lectotype (ZMB) 1 male, 1 female, present designation.

Dolosota redundans Casey 1910: 137; Moore and Legner 1975: 372. syn. n. LECTOTYPE (female): United States of America: NY [New York]; redundans Casey; Type USNM 39197; Casey bequest 1925; Dolosota redundans Casey - Lectotypus des. Gusarov 2000. Acrotona luteola (Er.) V.I. Gusarov det. 2000. We have added J. Klimaszewski’s lectotype, present designation label because Gusarov’s designation was never published (USNM). PARALECTOTYPES: United States of America: NY [New York]; redundans Casey; Type USNM 39197(USNM)2 females, present designation.

Diagnosis.

Body narrowly elongate (Fig. 6a), length 1.8-2.6 mm; head and posterior part of abdomen from brown to almost black, pronotum and basal half of abdomen light yellowish-brown to reddish brown, elytra yellowish to reddish-brown with some irregular small dark brown spots; legs and palps yellowish-brown and antennae either uniformly yellowish or basal articles I-IV yellowish and apical ones light brown; antennal articles I-IV elongate and V-X subquadrate to slightly transverse; pronotum short, transverse, strongly rounded laterally, and arcuate basally (Fig. 6a); elytra ca. as long as pronotum (Fig. 6a); abdomen broadly arcuate laterally. MALE: median lobe of aedeagus as illustrated (Fig. 6b); tergite VIII truncate apically, distance between base of disc and antecostal suture moderate in width, suture slightly sinuate medially (Fig. 6c); sternite VIII rounded apically (Fig. 6d). FEMALE: spermatheca with capsule small, pear-shaped and with shallow invagination, stem thin and twisted posteriorly, twists are irregular in shape or forming more or less regular coils (Figs 6 e–g); tergite VIII truncate apically (Fig. 6h); sternite VIII broadly rounded apically with apical fringe of short microsetae, distance between base of disc and antecostal suture narrow, suture strongly sinuate medially (Fig. 6i).

Distribution.

This native Nearctic species is reported in Canada for the first time from New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario (Map 1). In the USA, new records are provided for Massachusetts and Minnesota, and an additional record is provided for New York. The species was previously reported from Indiana, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin ( Erichson 1839, Casey 1910, Bland 1865, Blatchley 1910, Moore and Legner 1975).

Natural history.

Most adults from Quebec were collected in yellow birch and balsam fir dominated forest using pitfall traps ( Klimaszewski et al. 2007b). In New Brunswick, adults were found: under decaying seaweed on sea beach; under driftwood on a riverbank; in grass, moss and leaf litter near water in alder and cedar swamps and Carex marshes; in Spagnum moss and leaf litter in a young regenerating mixedwood forest; and in other decaying material in forests. In Ontario, adults were captured in litter around raspberry bushes near a bog, in a Typha marsh, and in a nest of Microtus pennsylvanicus . Adults were active from March to October in Canada. In Minnesota, adults were captured on a lakeshore and in a Microtus nest, and in Indiana were taken by sifting dump vegetable debris from March to November ( Blatchley 1910).

Locality data.

CANADA: New Brunswick: Carleton Co., Bell Forest, 46.2152°N, 67.7192°W, 11.V.2005, river margin, under drift material, M.-A. Giguère & R. Webster (RWC) 1 sex undetermined; Charlotte Co., ca. 9 km NW of New River, 45.2096°N, 66.6483°W, 13.VI.2005, alder swamp near large brook, in grass and leaf litter, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 male. Kent Co., Kouchibouguac Nat. Pk., 21.IX.1977, D.B. Lyons (CNC) 1 female; same data except A. Smetana (CNC) 1 female, and S.J. Miller (CNC) 1 female. Northumberland Co., Goodfellow Brook P.N.A., 46.8943°N, 65.3796°W, 23.V.2007, old-growth eastern white cedar swamp, in litter & grasses & moss on hummocks near water, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female; Restigouche Co., Jacquet River Gorge P.N.A., 47.8200°N, 66.0015°W, 13.V.2010, Carex marsh, under alders in leaf litter & moss near brook, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female; Saint John Co., Taylor’s Island, 45.2238°N, 66.1265°W, 26.VII.2004, sea beach, under decaying seaweed, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 sex undetermined; Sunbury Co., 46.0173°N, 66.3741°W, 18.VI.2007, Road 16 regenerating forest, 8.5 year-old regenerating mixed forest, in sphagnum & leaf litter, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female; York Co., Canterbury, trail to Browns Mtn. Fen, 5.8978°N, 67.6273°W, 2.V.2005, Mature cedar forest near stream, sifting leaf litter, M. Giguère (RWC) 1 female; Rt. 645 at Beaver Brook, 45.6860°N, 66.8668°W, 3.V.2008, Carex marsh in litter at base of dead red maple, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female; Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 14.VI.2008, mixed forest, in decaying (moldy) corncobs & cornhusks, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female; 8.5 km W of Tracy, off Rt. 645, 45.6821°N, 66.7894°W, 6.V.2008, wet alder swamp, in leaf litter & grass on hummocks, R.P. Webster (RWC) 1 female. Quebec: Blandford, 13.V.1971, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 female; Hudson Heights, 24-30.VII.1956, Lindberg (CNC) 1 female; Montreal, 22.IX.1968, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 male; Montreal, 30.IX.1968, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 8 females; Montreal, 16.V.1969, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 2 females; Montreal, 5.X.1979, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 female; Montreal, 4.V.1980, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 female; Ormstown, 22.VIII.1980, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 female; Rigaud end Ch. de la Croix. 5.V.1988, A. & Z. Smetana (CNC) 2 females; Saint-Etienne, Lévis, 6.VI.1981, C. Chantal (CNC) 1 female; Ste-Catherine, Port., 5.VIII.1961, J.C. Aubé (CNC) 4 females; Scotstown, 29.V.2006, C. Levesque (LFC) 4 females, 1 sex?; Mcy Co., St-Joachim, 11.VI.1963, C. Chantal (CNC) 1 female; Sherbrooke, 20.IX.1972, Dondale and Redner (CNC) 1 female; Portneuf, ZEC Batiscan-Nelson, SSAM project, Sapinière à bouleau jaune, Lac des Étangs, 4 gaps, Pitfall trap 21, 46°58'08"N, 72°02'57"W, 30. VI– 07.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 23, 46°58'08"N, 72°02'57"W, 1 specimen; Lac Poissonneux, clear cut, Pitfall trap 66, 47°02'48"N, 72°07'29"W, 297 m, 12. VIII– 19.VIII.2008, 1 specimen; 2 gaps, Pitfall trap 69, 47°02'N, 72°07'W, 15. VII– 22.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Clear cut, Pitfall trap 95, 47°02'N, 72°07'W, 1 specimen; 2 gaps, Pitfall trap 98, 47°02'N, 72°07'W, 22. VII– 29.VII.2008,1 specimen; 29. VII– 05.VIII.2008, 1 specimen; 25. VI– 02.VII.2008, 2 specimens; Pitfall trap 99, 27. V– 03.VI.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 100, 12. VIII– 19.VIII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 101, 02.VII-08.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 102,12. VIII– 19.VIII.2008, 1 specimen; 22.VII-29.VII.2008, 1 specimen; 8 gaps, Pitfall trap 103, 47°02'N, 72°07'W, 22.VII-29.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 105, 25. VI– 02.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 107, 25.VI-02.VII.2008, 1 specimen; 4 gaps, Pitfall trap 109, 47°02'N, 72°07'W, 25. VI– 02.VII.2008, 2 specimens; 08. VII– 15.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 110, 1 specimen; 10.VI-17.VI.2008, 2 specimens; Pitfall trap 111, 17. VI– 25.VI.2008, 1 specimen; 25.VI-02.VII.2008, 1 specimen; Pitfall trap 113, 08. VII– 15.VII.2008, 1 specimen; 10.VI-17.VI.2008, 1 specimen.

Ontario: Ancaster, 28.III.1963, J.E.H. Martin (CNC) 4 females; Carleton Co., Fitzroy Prov. Pk., 2-3.V.1979, A. & Z. Smetana (CNC) 1 female; Mer Bleue, 3.III.1973, Redner and Starr (CNC) 27 females; Ottawa, Mer Bleue bog, 16.IV.1972, litter around raspberry, L. LeSage (CNC) 4 females, 1 sex?; Mer Bleue, 17.X.1980, en fauchant herbages dans un champ, L. LeSage (CNC) 7 females; Ottawa, 22.VIII.1912, Beaulieu (CNC) 1 female; Ottawa, Shirleys Bay, 2.V.1970, A. & Z. Smetana (CNC) 1 female; Ottawa, Mer Bleue bog, 23.IV.1982, ridge litter, L. LeSage (CNC) 5 females; Carlsbad Springs, Mer Bleue, 23.V.1980, A. Smetana (CNC) 9 females; Kinburn, 8.VI.1962, ex Microtus nest, J.E.H Martin (CNC) 9 females; Ottawa, Black Rapids, 19.VIII.1959, J.R. Vockeroth (CNC) 3 females; Osgoode, 20.X.1967, ex nest of Microtus pennsylvanicus , J.M. Campbell and A. Smetana (CNC) 7 females; 6 mi. W. Richmont, 28.III.1973, J.E.H. Martin (CNC) 1 female; Rondo Provincial Park, Marsh Trail, 2.VI.1985, tread Typha in marsh, A. Davies and J.M. Campbell (CNC) 1 female; South March, 19.X.1967, A. Smetana (CNC) 1 female; 19 mi. S. Temagami, 1-13.VIII.1973, J. Redner and C. Starr (CNC) 1 female; North Bay, 11.VII.1972, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 female.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Massachusetts: Northampton, 5.XI.1978, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 2 females; Minnesota, Minneapolis, 25.VI.1958, E.J. Kiteley (CNC) 1 female; New York: Chautauqua Co., Lake Shore, Sheridan, II.1968, ex nest of Microtus pennsylvanicus , A.H. Benton (CNC) 1 female.

Comments.

In new material of Mocyta from Quebec and New Brunswick, we discovered an unrecorded bicoloured species from Canada that was similar in body size, coloration and shape of spermatheca to the native Mocyta luteola (Erichson) and the European Mocyta negligens (Mulsant & Rey) and Mocyta gilvicollis (Scheerpeltz). After examining the types and additional specimens of the two European species and Mocyta luteola and comparing them with Canadian individuals of our new species, we have concluded that our populations represent Mocyta luteola and that they are not conspecific with the two European species, as they differ in external morphological features such as body proportions, microsculpture, and shape and pubescence of pronotum. After examining the types of both nominal species ( Mocyta negligens , Mocyta gilvicollis ), and additional specimens from Europe, we found no significant morphological differences between the two species. Therefore these two European species are considered as conspecific, and Mocyta gilvicollis is considered as a new synonym of Mocyta negligens with details listed below (Figs 9 a–g, 10-14).

Colpodota negligens Mulsant and Rey 1873: 156 (Figs 10-14); Benick and Lohse 1974 (as Mocyta ); Smetana 2004 (as Acrotona ).

LECTOTYPE (male): the specimen does not have any original label but it is from the historical Rey collection (CCL) and it is pinned next to the original name label by Rey. It bears V. Gusarov’s lectotype designation label (2000), and his identification label as Atheta fungi (Gravenhorst), 2000. Because this designation was never published, we formally designate this specimen as a lectotype and put our determination label as Mocyta negligens (Mulsant and Rey), J. Klimaszewski 2014.

PARALECTOTYPES: there are 4 syntypes (1 male, 3 females) in Rey’s collection that are here designated as paralectotypes. One of the syntypes (female) bears a black dot label, which indicates that the specimen was taken in Provence, in southeast France. The specimens bear Paralectotype designation labels by V. Gusarov (2000) but because these designations were not published, we formally designate them as paralectotypes. All are determined as Mocyta negligens (Mulsant and Rey), det. J. Klimaszewski 2014.

Atheta gilvicollis Scheerpeltz 1949: 355 (Figs 9 a–g). syn. n.

LECTOTYPE (male): Typus; Atheta (Acrotona) gilvicollis ; O. Scheerpeltz [red label]; female sign; Üttligen; IX.1943; ex coll. Scheerpeltz [blue card] (MNHV) examined, present designation.

PARALECTOTYPES: Erlach; X.1951; male sign; gilvicollis ex coll. Scheerpeltz [blue card]; Vienna Museum (NHMV) 1 male, examined; Frauenfeld; VII.1955; gilvicollis Scheerpeltz, ex coll. Scheerpeltz (NHMV) sex undetermined, examined, present designation.