Cryptophilus obliteratus Reitter, 1874

Pentinsaari, Mikko, Anderson, Robert, Borowiec, Lech, Bouchard, Patrice, Brunke, Adam, Douglas, Hume, Smith, Andrew B. T. & Hebert, Paul D. N., 2019, DNA barcodes reveal 63 overlooked species of Canadian beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera), ZooKeys 894, pp. 53-150 : 53

Cryptophilus obliteratus Reitter, 1874

Distribution.

Native to the Palaearctic region (Asia). Adventive in the western Palaearctic region, recorded in Europe at least from Austria, Denmark, Germany, and France ( Denux and Zagatti 2010). Adventive in the Nearctic region (Arkansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, United States ( Esser 2017), and Ontario, Canada).

Canadian records.

Ontario: Ailsa Craig, 22-Apr-2013 to 03-May-2013 (1 ex, CBG); Dunnville, 22-Apr-2013 to 03-May-2013 (1 ex, CBG); London, 22-Apr-2013 to 03-May-2013 (2 exx, CBG); Orillia, 20-Apr-2015 to 08-May-2015 (1 ex, CBG); Peterborough, 05-Jul-2015 to 11-Jul-2015 (1 ex, CBG); Port Rowan, 22-Apr-2013 to 03-May-2013 (2 exx, CBG); Scarborough, 20-Apr-2015 to 08-May-2015 (1 ex, CBG); Whitby, 22-Apr-2013 to 03-May-2013 (5 exx, CBG).

Diagnostic information

(based on Esser 2016). Body length ca. 2.5 mm. Color red-brown with more-or-less extensive black markings on the elytra, usually a transverse black band or black lateral spots. Lateral margins of pronotum rounded, more abruptly narrowed basally, concave just in front of the sharp, approximately right-angled hind angles. Meso- and metatibiae bent inwards in males. Parameres relatively shorter than in the other two species recorded from North America. For habitus and genital figures, see Esser (2016) and Jens Esser’s homepage: http://cryptophagidae.de/Cryptophilus-Erotylidae-pleasing-fungus-beetles/

Bionomic notes.

This species has been collected from heaps of compost and garden waste in Germany ( Franzen 1991). The Canadian specimens were collected with Malaise traps, mainly from suburban residential areas.

Comments.

Esser (2017) reported Cryptophilus obliteratus from the United States and synonymized Cryptophilus seriatus Casey, 1924 (described from Massachusetts) with it. This species has obviously been present in North America for a long time, and Canadian records older than those reported here may well be found in collections.