Proteinus pseudothomasi Klimaszewski, 2005

Webster, Reginald P., Davies, Anthony E., Klimaszewski, Jan & Bourdon, Caroline, 2016, Further contributions to the staphylinid fauna of New Brunswick, Canada, and the USA, with descriptions of two new Proteinus species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 573, pp. 31-83 : 41-42

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Proteinus pseudothomasi Klimaszewski, 2005

Comments.

Originally described from NB, and later reported from a yellow birch forest in QC by Klimaszewski et al. (2007), an examination of CNC material revealed additional specimens of this rare species from across Canada, as well as the eastern United States. Additional locality data from NB in the RWC are also included.

Material examined.

Canada, Alberta, Twp 107, Rge 16, W 5 Mer, trail into forest just outside Machesis campground entrance, 25.VII.1989, B.F. & J.L. Carr, in fungus (1 ♂, CNC); Waterton Lakes National Park, Chief Mtn Hwy Km 9, 4500', 17.VII.1980, H.J. Teskey (1 ♂, CNC). New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Wakefield, Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1927°N, 67.6803°W, 16.IX.2006, R.P. Webster, coll. // Queens Co., Cranberry Lake P.N.A., 46.1125°N, 65.6075°W, 22.IX.2009, R.P. Webster, coll. // Red oak forest, in decaying gilled mushrooms (6 ♂, RWC). Saint John Co., Dipper Harbour, 45.1176°N, 66.3806°W, 24.VIII.2006, R.P. Webster, coll. // Red spruce & balsam fir forest, in decaying gilled mushrooms (1 ♂, RWC). York Co., Canterbury, trail to "Browns Mtn. Fen", 45.8954°N, 67.6307°W, 7.IX.2007, R.P. Webster, coll. // Mixed forest, in decaying gilled mushrooms (2 ♀, RWC). Newfoundland, Corner Brook, Loggers Sch. Rd. - U 60y fir, 25.VI-24.VII.1992, pitfall, (1 ♂, CNC). Ontario, 7 km S Westport, Chaffeys Locks Biol. Station, 44°34'08N, 76°19'15W, 23.X.1985, A. Davies, birch + maple litter beside logs (2 ♂, CNC). Quebec, Parc de la Gatineau, Lac Bourgeois, 7.VII.1982, J.E.H. Martin (1 ♂, CNC); same data except 12.VII.1982 (1 ♂, CNC); Parc de la Gatineau, 2 km S Lac Mousseau, 26.V-2.VI.1980, E. Rickey & A. Davies, flight intercept trap at beaver pond (1 ♂, CNC); Parc de la Gatineau, Pinks Lake, 45.4684°N 75.8117°W, A. Davies, 4.IX.1982, berlese mushrooms (1 ♂, CNC). U.S.A., Illinois, Union Co., Pine Hills Field Station, 15-22.V.1967, J.M. Campbell (1 ♂, 7 ♀, CNC). Kentucky, Pennyroyal State Park near Dawson Springs, 22.III.1983, J.M. Campbell (2 ♂, CNC). Pennsylvania, Fulton Co., Cowan Gap State Park, 26-28.V.1981, S. Peck, oak forest UV (1 ♂, 2 ♀, CNC).

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

AB, ON, QC, NB, NF ( Klimaszewski et al. 2005, Klimaszewski et al. 2007, Bousquet et al. 2013). In Canada, this species is newly recorded from AB, ON, and NF, and is reported for the first time for the USA, based on records from IL, KY, and PA.

Natural history.

In NB, Proteinus pseudothomasi was found in a red spruce and balsam fir forest, a mixed forest, and a red oak forest during August and September. All specimens were found in decaying gilled mushrooms. Elsewhere, specimens were found in fungus, collected from Berlese sample from mushrooms, a flight intercept trap, from birch and maple litter beside logs, and at UV light in an oak forest. Adults were collected from April to October. Little was previously known about the habitat associations of this species.