Baeocrara Thomson, 1859

komosiński, Karol & Marczak, Dawid, 1872, Ptiliolum caledonicum (Sharp, 1872) andBaeocrara japonica (Matthews, 1885) (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea: Ptiliidae) New to Poland, with Additional Polish Records ofAcrotrichis nanaStrand, 1946, The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (1), pp. 87-90 : 87-90

Baeocrara Thomson, 1859

Two species representing the genus Baeocrara are found in Europe. One of them, B. variolosa (Mulsant and Rey, 1861) has been noted in Poland. The second species, B. japonica (Matthews, 1885) , is considered to be a recent immigrant in Europe and has not yet been found in Poland. Baeocrara japonica is smaller (0.6 mm) than its congener, has a more slender body, and a yellow-colored first antennomere, while B. variolosa is larger (0.75 – 1.00 mm), broader, with generally darker antennae of yellow-brown color. Due to high external resemblance and risk of confusion, investigation of the genitalia for species identification is recommended (Lohse and Lucht 1989).

Baeocrara japonica was described from Japan. In Europe, it was first noted in Finland in 1974 and in Sweden in 1976 (Rutanen and Muona 1977). It was later found in Germany, Hungary, Norway, Denmark, Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Belarus, and Slovakia (Sörensson and Johnson 2004). Here, we report the first find from Poland. Ephemeral habitats such as feces, carcasses, and compost are preferred.

Material Examined. Mazurian Lake District (northeastern Poland): Sątopy ( Fig. 1 ), Nisko colony (EE09), 26 VII 2003 – 1 female, leg et coll. K. Komosiński, in flight, close to a large farm .

Figures

Fig. 1. Distribution of Ptiliolum caledonicum, Baeocrara japonica, and Acrotrichis nana in Poland.