Corresponding author: Jan Klimaszewski (
Academic editor: C. Majka
The aleocharine beetles of the Yukon Territory, Canada are reviewed based on material studied since the most recent survey of the territory in 2008. The present contribution recognizes a fauna of 125 species, of which 9 are new to science, 20 represent new territorial records and one represents a new Canadian record. Seventeen species are considered Holarctic, 6 introduced, and 2 species are of undetermined status (Holarctic or adventive). The Yukon fauna is classified in 32 genera and 8 tribes. The new species are: 1)
Aleocharinae is the largest subfamily of
Currently, over 400 species of
The present paper provides an updated review of aleocharine beetles from the Yukon Territory and constitutes important baseline data for monitoring the impact of invasive species, pollution, natural resource extraction and climate change. Additionally, the information and illustrations contained herein will make it possible to incorporate this diverse subfamily into ongoing Canadian biodiversity inventories including those in the Canadian Arctic.
Over 1,226 adults of
Morphological terminology mainly follows that used by
Samples collected in this study include those from the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) plots. Two l ha plots, the Fireweed Drive (mixed pine and willow forest) and Cadet Camp (white spruce mature forest with feathermoss ground cover), have been reserved for long-term monitoring. All samples from these locations were collected from pitfall traps operating from late May to late September. Additional pitfall samples were collected by Donald Reid from early June to early August 2007, and early June to mid August 2008 at an alluvial fan on Hershel Island (dominated by
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
>Environment Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, René Martineau Insectarium, Québec City, Quebec, Canada
In this second recent survey of the
The present survey increased the known Yukon aleocharine fauna from 95 to 125 species (
Intensive sampling of the aleocharine fauna of the Yukon is continuing by the second author and undoubtedly many more species will be discovered in the future. The study of the Yukon fauna is particularly significant for understanding the shift in some species distributions in response to climate warming and for establishing baseline biodiversity data for northern Canada. Additionally, the occurrence of a species in the Yukon Territory otherwise known only from the eastern part of the country provides some evidence for a natural Holarctic distribution. Therefore, a survey of the biodiversity of the Yukon also contributes to our knowledge of species suspected of being adventive.
(* adventive species, ** Holarctic species, NTR=new territorial record for the Yukon Territory, NCR=new Canadian record; taxa in phylogenetic order).
I. Tribe
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II. Tribe
Subgenus
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IV. Tribe Hypocyphtini
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V. Tribe
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VI. Tribe
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VII. Tribe
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VIII. Tribe
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Subgenus Atheta Thomson
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Subgenus Pseudota Casey
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Subgenus Oreostiba Ganglbauer
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Subgenus Alaobia Thomson
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Subgenus Bessobia Thomson
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Subgenus Dimetrota Mulsant and Rey
Altaica Group
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Prudhoensis Group
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Modesta Group
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Campbelli Group
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Fanatica Group
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Cadeti Group
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Subgenus Rhagocneme Munster
78.
Subgenus Datomicra Mulsant and Rey
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Subgenus Microdota Mulsant and Rey
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SUBGENUS UNCERTAIN
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Origin | Nearctic |
---|---|
Nearctic distribution | Canada: NS, NB, ON, YT; USA: RI |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, Paddy’s Pond, 60.7067, -135.0917, 6.V.2007, 649 m, litter sifting, mixed aspen and white spruce forest, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 2 females |
References |
Origin | Nearctic |
Nearctic distribution | Canada (NTR): BC, YT; USA: CA |
YT distribution | YUKON: Whitehorse, Granger subdivision, coniferous woodchip pile, 60.7097, -135.0996, 2.IX.2007, 661 m, pitfall trap, B. Godin (LFC) 1 male; same data except: 3.V.2008 (LFC, ECW) 4 males, 2 females |
References |
Body images in dorsal view:
Origin | Nearctic |
Nearctic distribution | Canada: YT, BC; USA: AK, CA |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, Paddy’s Pond, 60.7067, -135.0917, 6.V.2007, 649 m, litter sifting, mixed aspen and white spruce forest, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male |
References |
Body images in dorsal view:
(male)
Yukon, EMAN Plot, 60.5963, -134.9522, 24.VII.2003, 738 m, black pitfall trap (LMKM31B), (ECW) 1 male.
Body small, subparallel, robust, uniformly dark brown, almost black; length 2.8–3.0 mm; head round in outline and almost as wide as pronotum; antennae with article 4 subquadrate, 5–10 moderately transverse, increasingly wider apicad; pronotum transverse, angular posteriad and slightly narrower than maximum width of elytra; abdomen subparallel, at base as wide as elytra (
This native Nearctic species is known only from the type locality in the Yukon.
Two adults were collected in July.
Median lobe of aedeagus and spermatheca in lateral view of
Origin | Nearctic |
Nearctic distribution | Canada: NL, QC, ON, MB, AB, YT, NT; USA: AK, NH |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, Paddy’s Pond, 60.7067, -135.0917, 6.V.2007, 649 m, litter sifting, mixed aspen and white spruce forest, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male, 1 female; Watson Lake - Watson Creek, 60.1272, -128.805, 7.VII.2008, 697 m, deciduous debris soil sifting, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male, 2 females; Contact Creek, 65 km E Watson Lake; 59.9995, -127.7241,8.VI.2008, 621 m, litter sifting, creek bank, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male; Upper Liard, Albert Creek, 60.0522, -128.928, 8.VII.2008, 619 m, deciduous forest soil sifting, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 3 males, 4 females |
References |
Origin | Holarctic or Palaearctic |
Nearctic distribution | Canada: NL, NS, QC, ON, AB, YT; USA: NH |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Watson Lake - Watson Creek, 60.1272, -128.805, 4.VI.2008, 697 m, deciduous debris, soil sifting, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male, 1 female |
References |
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | |
YT distribution | YUKON |
References |
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, NB, MB, YT |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Watson Lake – Watson Creek, 60.12723, -128.8053, 16. VIII.2007, 697 m, mushrooms, B. Godin (LFC) 1 female; Granger, 60.7078, 135.0971, 25.VIII.2007, 657 m, B. Godin (LFC) 1 female. |
References |
The two females are tentatively identified as
(female)
This species name is dedicated to Denise Horwood, wife of the second author, who assisted him in numerous aleocharine sample collections.
Body narrowly oval, moderately convex, uniformly black, punctation on forebody fine, dense and not asperate, microsculpture fine but not pronounced; length 2.4 mm; head narrower than pronotum, ratio of maximum width of head to maximum width of pronotum 0.7; antennal articles 7–10 slightly transverse; pronotum moderately transverse, ratio of maximum width to length 1.4, about as wide as elytra; elytra at suture about as long as pronotum; abdomen slightly narrowed posteriad (
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, NS, PE, YT; USA: CA, CO, CT, IA, KS, MA, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, TX |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, 60.7328, -135.0986 18.VI.2007, 717 m, hand collected, parking lot asphalt, (ECW) 1 female |
References |
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada (NTR): YT; USA: WY |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, McIntyre Creek, 60.7398, -135.1462, 25.IV.2007, 744 m, litter sifting, willow stand by creek bank, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 2 females; EP Impact, south, 60.7336, -135.0946,19.VII.2001, 695 m, pitfall trap, disturbed land, grasses, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 3 females |
References |
|
Two additional
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, YT |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, Granger, 60.7078, -135.0971, 1.VIII.2007, 657 m, mushrooms, B. Godin (ECW) 2 females; same data except: 60.7366, 135.097, 15.VIII.2008, 743 m, pitfall trap, ski trail, birch stand, B.Godin (ECW) 1 male; EMAN Plot, Fireweed Dr., 60.6014,-134.9387, 8.VIII.2006, 772 m, pitfall trap, mixed pine and willow forest (ECW) 1 male; same data except: 23.VII.2006 (ECW) 1 female; EMAN Plot, Cadet Camp, 60.5951, -134.9499, 23.VIII.2006, 760 m, pitfall trap, mature white spruce and feathermoss forest, (ECW) 1 female |
References |
|
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, NS, NB, QC, YT, BC; USA: AK, NV |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, Paddy’s Pond, 60.7067, -135.0917, 20.V.2007, 649 m, litter sifting, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male; Whitehorse, Granger, 60.7078, -135.0971, 5.VIII.2007, 657 m, soil sifting, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male; same data except: 27.IX.2008, compost (LFC) 1 male, 1 female |
References |
Canada, Yukon, Whitehorse, Granger, 60.7078, -135.0971, 25.VIII.2007, 657 m, soil sifting, black spruce stand, AWT, B. Godin (LFC).
Canada, Yukon, Whitehorse, Granger, 60.7078, -135.0971, 5.VIII.2007, 657 m, soil sifting, black spruce stand, AWT, B. Godin (ECW) 1 female.
The specific name derives from the name of the type locality, which is Whitehorse, Yukon.
Body narrowly oval, dark brown to black, with bases of antennae and legs rust-brown, surface matte, with asperate dense punctation on forebody and strong meshed microsculpture (
This species is similar externally to
This native Nearctic species is known only from the type locality in the Yukon Territory.
Adults were captured by sifting soil in a black spruce stand.
Origin | Holarctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, NS, NB, ON, AB, BC, YT; USA: AK |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Whitehorse, Granger, 60.7078, -135.0971, 25.VIII.2007, 657 m, soil sifting, black spruce stand, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 3 males, 2 females; same data except: 1.VIII.2008, mushrooms (ECW, LFC) 3 males; 16.VIII.2007, mushrooms (ECW) 1 female; Upper Liard, Albert Creek, 60.0522, -128.928, 8.VII.2007, 699 m, deciduous debris, soil sifting, B. Godin (ECW) 1 female |
References |
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, YT; USA: AK |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Tagish, Tagish Lake; 60.2658, -134.2873, 20.VIII.2007, 654 m, mushroom, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male |
References |
(male)
The specific name derives from the word micro, meaning small, and elytra,in allusion to the small and short elytra of this species.
Body narrowly subparallel; dark brown, with bases of antennae and legs rust-brown; strongly glossy, with fine and moderately dense punctation on forebody and strong, meshed microsculpture (
This species bears some superficial external similarity to
This native Nearctic species is known only from the type locality in the Yukon Territory.
Adults were found in aspen, alder and willow litter in March, May and September.
(male)
Same data as the holotype (ECW) 1 male.
Canada, Yukon, Watson Lake, Watson Creek, 60.12723, -128.8053, 16.VIII.2007, 697 m, mushrooms, B. Godin (LFC) 1 female.
The name of this species derives from the Latin adjective
Body small and narrow, subparallel; black, with tarsi reddish-brown; moderately glossy, with fine, dense punctation and meshed microsculpture on forebody (
This species differs from other Nearctic
Origin | Palaearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, NS, NB, PE, QC, ON, AB, YT; USA: CA, NY |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): EMAN plot, Cadet Camp, 60.5951, -134.9499, 26.V.2006, 760 m, pitfall trap, mature white spruce and feathermoss forest, B. Godin (LFC) 1 male |
References |
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, NB, NS, QC, ON, MB, AB, YT, NT; USA: ME, NH, NY, VT |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Upper Liard, Albert Creek, 60.0522, -128.9279, 3.VI.2007, 699 m, deciduous litter sifting, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 4 males, 2 females; same data except: 4.VI.2007 (ECW, LFC) 1 male, 2 females, 7.VII.2008 (ECW, LFC) 2 males; Watson Lake, Watson Creek, 60.12723, -128.8053, 16.VIII.2007, 697 m (ECW) 1 male |
References |
Canada, Yukon, Whitehorse, Paddy’s Pond, 60.7067, -135.0917, 26.V.2007, 649 m, litter sifting, mixed aspen and white spruce forest, B. Godin (LFC).
same label data as the holotype (ECW) 1 male; Watson Lake, Watson Creek, 60.1272, -128.8053, 4.VI.2007,697 m, deciduous forest soil sifting, B. Godin (ECW) 1 male, 1 female.
This species name derives from the specific name
Body narrowly subparallel, uniformly black or black with legs and sutural part of elytra reddish-brown (
Female. tergite 8 truncate apically (
This species is known only from Whitehorse and Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory.
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: NL, YT |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Watson Lake, Watson Creek, 60.1272, -128.8053, 4.VI.2007, 697 m, deciduous litter sifting, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 2 males |
References |
|
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: MB, YT, NT |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Nisutlin Wildlife Area, 60.2317, -132.5632, 21.VIII.2007, 679 m, pitfall – Willow stand # 2, B. Godin (LFC) 1 male. |
References |
(male)
Female. unknown.
Origin | Nearctic |
Distribution | Canada: YT, NL |
YT distribution | YUKON (NTR): Albert Creek, 60.0522, -128.9279, 3.VI.2007, soil sifting, willow stand, B. Godin (LFC) 1 male. |
References |
(female)
Labeled as the holotype except: 1–3.VI.2007 (ECW) 1 male; 7.VI.2007 (ECW) 2 males; 10.VI.2007 (CNC) 1 male; 15.VI.2007 (ECW) 1 female; 17.VI.2007 (ECW) 1 male, 1 female; 19.VI.2007 (ECW) 1 female; 16.VII.2007 (LFC) 1 male, 1 female; 21.VII.2007 (ECW) 2 females; 31.VII.2007 (LFC) 1 male; 7.VI.2008 (ECW) 2 females; 7.VII.2008 (ECW) 2 females; 15.VII.2008 (ECW) 1 female; 11.VIII.2008 (ECW) 1 female.
Named for the type locality, Herschel Island.
Body narrow, subparallel, head and pronotum about the same width, elytra and abdomen slightly wider, uniformly black (
The following combination of characters distinguishes this species from other congeners: narrow, subparallel and uniformly black body, integument of forebody matte and with dense microsculpture, median lobe of aedeagus narrow apically and spermatheca S-shaped.
This Nearctic species is known only from the type locality on Herschel Island, Yukon.
Adults were collected in June and July on an alluvial fan.
This species is superficially similar to
(female). Canada, Yukon, EMAN Plot, Cadet Camp, 60.5951, -134.9499, 20.IX.2006, 760 m, pitfall trap, mature white spruce and feathermoss forest, coll. EP Yukon, AJK (LFC).
Canada, Yukon, EMAN Plot, Cadet Camp, 60.5951, -134.9499, 29.V.2006, 760 m, pitfall trap, mature white spruce and feathermoss forest, EP Yukon, AHW (ECW) 1 female; same data except: 15.V.2002, JF (ECW) 1 female; 12.VI.2002, EV (ECW) 1 female; 18.X.2002, FD (CNC) 2 females; 8.VII.2003, LMK31Y. LJ (ECW) 1 female; Fireweed Dr., 60.6014, -134.9387, 23.IX.2000, 772 m, pitfall trap, mixed pine and willow forest, EP Yukon (ECW) 1 female; Whitehorse, Granger, 60.7078, -135.0971, 5.VIII.2007, 657 m, soil sifting, black spruce stand, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 2 females; same data except: 25.VIII.2007 (LFC) 1 female; Whitehorse, Paddy’s Pond, 60.7067, -135.0917, 16.IX.2007, 649 m, litter sifting, mixed aspen and white spruce forest, B. Godin (ECW) 1 female; Upper Liard, Albert Creek, 60.0522, -128.928, 8.VII.2000, 699 m, deciduous litter sifting, B. Godin (ECW, LFC) 2 females.
Named for Douglas Davidge, biological technician (ECW), who supported the second author in his work for 20 years.
Body narrow, subparallel, head narrower than pronotum, elytra and abdomen slightly wider, uniformly brown with appendages yellowish-brown and antennae yellow, or with head and abdomen dark brown and rest of body light brown (
The following combination of characters distinguishes this species from other congeners: body narrow, subparallel and brown, with pronotum, elytra and legs lighter, antennae yellowish, surface of forebody moderately glossy and with dense microsculpture, and spermatheca short and S-shaped.
This Nearctic species is known only from the type localities in the Yukon Territory.
Adults were collected from May to September from soil and organic litter.
This species may be easily distinguished by the unique shape of the spermatheca.
Median lobe of aedeagus and spermatheca (view as specified) of
Male and female tergite and sternite 8:
Male and female terite and sternite 8:
Male and female tergite and sternite 8:
Pamela Cheers, English Editor (LFC) edited the first draft of the manuscript. Adam Brunke (University of Guelph, Ontario) corrected the first draft of this manuscript and provided many useful comments. Thesecond author thanks the following individuals for supporting this project: Douglas Davidge (ECW) for coordinating the collection of samples in the Nisutlin Wildlfe Area in conjunction with Debie van de Wetering; his wife Denise Horwood who assisted with the collectionof most of his samples; Donald G. Reid (Witehorse) for the collection of specimens from Herschel Island, Elise Bolduc (Université du Québec à Rimouski) for sorting Staphylinidae from the Herschel Island samples. The collection of samples from Herschel Island was supported by grants from the Government of Canada’s International Polar Year program (Indian and Northern Affairs), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Environment Canada, and the Polar Continental Shelf Program (Natural Resources Canada), the Arctic Wildlife Observatories Linking Vulnerable EcoSystems International Polar Year poject (project #11, ArcticWOLVES) of the Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec. We are most obliged to A. Smetana (CNC) for his comments on and signficant improvements of the oriinal manuscript.