Gyrophaena (Phaenogyra) strictula, Erichson, 1839

Klimaszewski, Jan, Webster, Reginald & Savard, Karine, 2009, Review of the rove beetle species of the subtribe Gyrophaenina Kraatz (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from New Brunswick, Canada: new species, provincial records and bionomic information, ZooKeys 22 (22), pp. 81-170 : 123-126

XII. Gyrophaena (Phaenogyra) strictula species group ( Seevers, 1951: 724) 27. Gyrophaena (Phaenogyra) subnitens Casey

Figs 25, 166–172; Map 22

Gyrophaena (Phaenogyra) subnitens Casey, 1906: 302 ; Seevers 1951: 725; Campbell and Davies 1991: 107.

Description. Body length 1.5–2.2 mm, approximately uniformly dark brown, elytra may have some paler irregular small spots, base of abdomen sometimes slightly paler than rest of abdomen. Punctation: vertex of head with at least six moderately-sized coarse punctures on each side, pronotum with two median rows of coarse punctures and additional punctures scattered elsewhere, elytra with fine and sparse punctures. Microsculpture: reticulate throughout but weaker on pronotum. Antennae light yellow (Fig. 25). Pronotum 1.5 times as wide as long. MALE: tergite 8 with two large lateral teeth, and two small median teeth present or absent, apical margin of disc slightly emarginate medially (Fig. 168); sternite 8 rounded apically (Fig. 169). Median lobe of aedeagus with elongate and apically divided tubus (Fig. 166), apical projection of internal sac arcuate (Fig.

Map 22. Collection localities in New Brunswick, Canada of Gyrophaena subnitens

166). Paramere as illustrated (Fig. 167). FEMALE. Tergite 8 truncate apically (Fig. 171); sternite 8 broadly rounded apically (Fig. 172); spermatheca as illustrated (Fig. 170).

Bionomics. Macrohabita t: 8.5-year-old regenerating mixed forest and a red oak forest. Microhabitat: gilled mushrooms (sun-exposed) on stump. Collecting period: June. Collecting method: sifting mushrooms and aspirating specimens.

Distribution (Map 22). CANADA: New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba; UNITED STATES: Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, and Wisconsin.

Comments. Gyrophaena subnitens is similar externally to G. meduxnekeagensis but may be distinguished from the latter species by paler, light-yellow antennae, short elytra (Fig. 25), and the shape of tubus of median lobe of aedeagus without basal swelling (Fig. 166). From Palaearctic G. polita (Gravenhorst) (Figs 27, 180–183), it differs in having a lighter body coloration, shorter and more rapidly converging postocular temples of head, and broader pronotum (Fig. 25). The genital structures are generally similar in these species.

28. Gyrophaena (Phaenogyra) meduxnekeagensis Klimaszewski & Webster , sp. n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4B6BA2DB-765B-4735-86A8-D67A2315A28F

Figs 26, 173–179; Map 23

HOLOTYPE (male): CANADA, New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Belleville, Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1907°N, 67.6740°W, 19 July 2006, R.P. Webster coll., mature mixed forest, on small white gilled mushroom on side of decaying log ( LFC). PARATYPES: CANADA, New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Jackson Falls, “Bell Forest Preserve”, 46.2199°N, 67.7232°W, 6 May 2007, R.P. Webster coll., hardwood forest, in partially dried polypore fungus on dead standing Populus tremuloides ( RWC) 1 male, 1 female; New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Belleville, Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1940°N, 67.6800°W, 3 July 2006, R.P. Webster coll., mixed forest, on Pleurotus sp. on dead standing Populus tremuloides ( RWC) 1 sex not determined; New Brunswick, York Co., 8.4 km W of Tracy, off Rt. 645, 45.0871°N, 66.7871°W, 6 May 2008, R.P. Webster coll., wet alder swamp in fleshy polypore fungus at base of standing dead Populus tremuloides ( RWC) 1 male; Quebec, Bellechasse Co., St. Raphael, 46.8078°N, 70.7344°W, 15 July 2006, R.P. Webster coll., mixed forest, on Pleurotus sp. on dead standing Populus tremuloides ( LFC) 1 male, 1 female, ( RWC) 2 males, 1 female.

Etymology. In reference to Meduxnekeag in the Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve where the type and most of the paratypes were collected. This private protected area, adjacent to the Meduxnekeag River and established by the Meduxnekeag River Valley Association, is home to an unsually high number of rare plant and Coleoptera species. The word “Meduxnekeag” is a Maliseet Indian one meaning “rough or rocky at its mouth” presumably applied to the mouth of the river itself.

Description. Body length 1.5–2.4 mm, approximately uniformly dark brown, elytra may have some paler irregular small spots, base of abdomen sometimes slightly paler than the rest of abdomen. Punctation: vertex of head with at least six moderately-sized coarse punctures on each side, pronotum with two median rows of coarse punctures and additional punctures scattered elsewhere, elytra with fine, sparse punctures. Microsculpture: reticulate throughout but weaker on pronotum. Antennae light yellow-brown to brownish (Fig. 26). Pronotum 1.6 times as wide as long. MALE: tergite 8 with two large lateral teeth, and two small median teeth, which are sometimes substantially reduced in size, apical margin slightly emarginate medially (Fig. 175); sternite 8 rounded apically (Fig. 176). Median lobe of aedeagus with long and apically divided tubus (Fig. 173), its base swollen basally and angular in shape (Fig. 173), apical projection of internal sac arcuate (Fig. 173). Paramere as illustrated (Fig. 174). FEMALE. Tergite 8 truncate apically (Fig. 178); sternite 8 broadly rounded apically (Fig. 179); spermatheca as illustrated (Fig. 177).

Bionomics. Macrohabitat: hardwood forest, mature mixed forest, mixed forest, wet alder ( Alnus sp.) swamp. Microhabitat: on small white gilled mushroom on side of decaying log, and on Pleurotus sp. growing on dead standing Populus tremuloides , partially dried polypore fungus at base of dead standing Populus tremuloides . Collecting period: May and July. Collecting method: sifting mushrooms and aspirating specimens.

Distribution (Map 23). CANADA: New Brunswick and Quebec.

Map 23. Collection localities in New Brunswick, Canada of Gyrophaena meduxnekeagensis

Comments. Gyrophaena meduxnekeagensis is similar externally to G. subnitens but may be distinguished from the latter species by its darker, light yellowishbrown to brown antennae, long elytra (Fig. 26), and the shape of the tubus of median lobe of aedeagus with a basal swelling (Fig. 173). It differs from Palaearctic G. polita (Gravenhorst) (Figs 27, 180–183) by lighter body coloration, shorter and more rapidly converging postocular temples of the head, and broader pronotum (Fig. 26). The genital structures are in general similarly shaped in the two latter species (Figs 173–179, 180–183). Females of G. meduxnekeagensis may be confused with those of G. corruscula from which they differ externally by their infuscated antennae.