Lordithon (Lordithon) niger (Gravenhorst, 1802)**

Webster, Reginald P., Sweeney, Jon D. & DeMerchant, Ian, 2012, New Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) records with new collection data from New Brunswick and eastern Canada: Tachyporinae, ZooKeys 186, pp. 55-82 : 72-73

Lordithon (Lordithon) niger (Gravenhorst, 1802)** Map 23

Material examined.

New Brunswick, Carleton Co., Meduxnekeag River Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1907°N, 67.6740°W, 4.VIII.2006, R. P. Webster, mature hardwood forest,in Bjerkandera adusta (Willd.) P. Karsten (a fleshy polypore fungi) on side of beech log (1 ♀, RWC); Jackson Falls, Bell Forest, 46.2200°N, 67.7231°W, 16.IX.2006, R. P. Webster, mature hardwood forest, in Bjerkandera adusta (Willd.) P. Karsten on dead standing beech tree (1 ♀, RWC); same locality, collector, and forest type but 18.VIII.2008, in Porodaedalea sp. (fleshy polypore) on dead standing beech tree (1 ♂, RWC). Queens Co., Cranberry Lake P.N.A, 46.1125°N, 65.6075°W, 11-18.VI.2009, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère, old red oak forest, Lindgren funnel trap (1, AFC).

Collection and habitat data.

Nothing was previously known about the habitat associations of this rare species ( Campbell 1982). The New Brunswick specimens were collected from Bjerkandera adusta (Willd.) P. Karsten and Porodaedalea sp. (both are fleshy polypore fungi) on a beech log, or on dead, standing beech trees in a mature to old-growth and predominantly hardwood forest. One individual was captured in a Lindgren funnel trap in a mature to old red oak forest. Several specimens of this species were found in company with Tachinus schwarzi in a decaying fleshy polypore fungus on a standing, dead Populus sp. in a hardwood forest in Saint-Raphaël (15.VII.2006), Quebec (Webster, unpublished). Adults from New Brunswick were collected during June, August, and September. The habitat data above suggest that this species might be specialized on fleshy polypore fungi and related species that grow on dead standing trees or logs. Campbell (1982) noted that this species appeared to be becoming increasingly rare and suggested that it might be associated with old-growth hardwood forests, which are disappearing from most of eastern North America. However, more sampling should be done in forests of various ages to establish if this species is indeed an old–growth associate.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

ON, QC, NB ( Campbell 1982).