First record of the genus Schistoglossa Kraatz from Canada with descriptions of seven new species ( Coleoptera , Staphylinidae , Aleocharinae )

Th e following seven new aleocharine species of the genus Schistoglossa Kraatz are described from Canada and the United States (New Hampshire): S. brunswickensis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; S. charlottae Klimaszewski, sp. n.; S. campbelli Klimaszewski sp. n.; S. carexiana Klimaszewski, sp. n.; S. hampshirensis Klimaszewski, sp. n.; S. pseudocampbelli Klimaszewski & Webster sp. n.; and S. sphagnorum Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n. All are illustrated by digital images of the entire body and the genital structures and compared with western Palaearctic species. Data on bionomics and distribution are provided. A checklist of Nearctic species and a key to Canadian species of the genus are presented. Boreophilia blatchleyi (Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926) is transferred to the genus Schistoglossa, and the previously unknown female is illustrated. One new subgenus is erected, Schistoglossa (Boreomorpha), to accommodate some species of the genus.


Introduction
Schistoglossa Kraatz (1856) is a Holarctic genus with 19 valid species (Ashe 2001;Smetana 2004) including seven new species described herein.Ten species are recorded from the Palaearctic region (Smetana 2004) and fi ve nominal species have been recorded from the Nearctic region (Seevers 1978;Moore and Legner 1975).Th e Nearctic species included one unconfi rmed record of Palaearctic S. viduata (Erichson) (Moore and Legner 1975;Seevers 1978), two doubtful records of undescribed, but cited as described species, S. aubeiodes Brundin and S. holmbergi Brundin (Seevers 1978;Campbell and Davies 1991), and one valid species, S. approximata Bernhauer, with its synonym S. fl avicornis Bernhauer (Gusarov 2003).Th e genus Schistoglossa was fi rst reported from the Palaearctic region by Bernhauer (1909) who described two species: S. approximata and S. fl avicornis [originally as Atheta].Gusarov (2003) synonymized S. fl avicornis with S. approximata.Seevers (1978) proposed that Atheta reticula Casey, 1910 (a misspelling of S. reticulata) from Virginia should be transferred to Schistoglossa along with S. aubeoides [Massachusetts] and holmbergi [Alaska], "described" from America by Brundin (1943).Herman (in Seevers 1978) was unable to fi nd descriptions of these two species, which, as far as is known, were not described and constitute nomina nuda.Brundin (1943) said the genus Schistoglossa was represented in the Nearctic region by two new species in Bernhauer's collection: one from Alaska, Sitkha, called "aubei" that was related to curtipennis [referred to as holmbergi in Seevers /1978/], and one from Massachusetts, which was close to "aubéi" [referred to as aubeiodes in Seevers /1978/].We assume that Seevers saw the specimens Brundin was referring to in Bernhauer's collection, and did not mean "described" (in the formal taxonomic sense), and thus "mentioned" the two species in his paper, and cited the names as they were labelled in Bernhauer's collection.Ashe (2001) examined A. reticulata and correctly excluded it from Schistoglossa because it was lacking bifi d mandibles, a key character distinguishing Schistoglossa from related genera.Th erefore on the grounds of the present evidence there is only one valid species, S. approximata, described from North America prior to this publication.Gusarov borrowed the types of S. approximata and S. fl avicornis (a synonym of S. approximata) from the Field Museum, Chicago, and despite consistent eff orts to borrow them for a short examination we were not able to obtain them.Th erefore our new species were not compared with Bernhauer's type material of S. approximata and S. fl avicornis.
Th e purpose of this paper is to review all nominal Nearctic Schistoglossa species, to describe seven new species from Canada and one from Canada and the United States, and to provide a key for their identifi cation.

Material and methods
Over 80 adults of Schistoglossa from Canada and the United States were examined and most specimens were dissected.Th e genital structures were dehydrated in ab-solute alcohol and mounted in Canada balsam on celluloid microslides and pinned with the specimens from which they originated.Th e photographs of the entire body and the genital structures were taken using an image processing system (Nikon SMZ 1500 stereoscopic microscope; Nikon Digital Camera DXM 1200F; and Adobe Photoshop software).
Terminology mainly follows that used by Seevers (1978).Th e ventral part of the median lobe of the aedeagus is considered to be the part of the bulbus containing the foramen mediale, the entrance of the ductus ejaculatorius, and the adjacent venter (ventral part of the tubus of the median lobe) of the tubus; the opposite side is referred to as the dorsal part.In species descriptions, microsculpture refers to the upper forebody integument.
Th e shape of the spermatheca in Schistoglossa species provides very good characteristics for species identifi cation while the median lobe of the aedeagus is similar in closely related species.For this reason, females were designated as the holotypes for our new species.All newly described Nearctic species of Schistoglossa were compared with illustrations of the spermathecae and the median lobes of the aedeagus (lateral view) of the western Palaearctic species of the genus.Th is is standard procedure to eliminate the possibility of synonymy with species previously described from the Palaearctic region.For illustrations of Palaearctic species of Schistoglossa, see Benick and Lohse (1974) and Lohse (1989).

Schistoglossa charlottae
Etymology.Th e specifi c name charlottae is an adjective derived from the Queen Charlotte Islands, where the species was found.Th e Queen Charlotte Islands, in turn, were named in 1787 by Captain George Dixon after the wife of the British monarch George III, Queen Charlotte Sophia (1744-1818).Gender feminine.
Bionomics.Adults were captured by treading Sphagnum and Carex at edge of marsh in August.
Geographic distribution (Map 1).Known from Canada from southern British Columbia: the Queen Charlotte Islands and New Denver.
Bionomics.Adults were captured by treading Sphagnum and Carex at edge of marsh in August.
Geographic distribution (Map 2).Known only from the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia, Canada.
Comments.Schistoglossa campbelli has a median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca similar to those of S. hampshirensis and S. pseudocampbelli to which it is probably closely related.Etymology.Th e specifi c name, pseudocampbelli, is an adjective derived from the prefi x pseudo added to the name campbelli, refl ecting close genital similarities between the two species.Gender masculine.
Bionomics.Like other members of this genus, this species was most commonly captured in marshes or near wetlands.Adults were captured in Carex marshes in sphagnum hummocks, by treading sedge hummocks into water, sweeping foliage in Carex marsh, in grass and sphagnum at the base of alder in a marsh with grasses and alders, Geographic distribution (Map 3).Known only from New Brunswick, Canada.
Comments.Schistoglossa pseudocampbelli has genital structures similar to those of S. campbelli and S. brunswickensis and is probably closely related to these species.Etymology.Th e name of this species derives from the province of New Brunswick, where the original series was captured.New Brunswick, in turn, was named in honour of the German city of Brauschweig in Lower Saxony, the ancestral home of the British monarch, George III (1738-1820).Gender masculine.

Schistoglossa brunswickensis
Diagnosis.Small species, length 1.8-2.1 mm, body narrowly subparallel, approximately uniformly dark brown, with tarsi or entire legs, bases of antennae and mouthparts paler, moderately glossy and moderately densely pubescent (Fig. 4); antennae slim, articles 5-10 slightly to strongly transverse (Fig. 4); tempora each about as long as three times maximal diameter of eye as seen from above (Fig. 4); median lobe of aedeagus moderately broad, venter of tubus arcuate (Fig. 35), apical sclerites of internal sac V-shaped in dorsal view (Fig. 34); spermatheca S-shaped, with capsule tubular, stem moderately narrow and angularly bent posteriad (Fig. 39).Except for protruding eyes, slightly more transverse pronotum, and longer body, this species is not externally distinguishable from S. hampshirensis.
Bionomics.Adults were captured in Carex and Typha marshes, in litter and grass at the base of dead red maples, in a Carex marsh (probably an overwintering site), tread- Geographic distribution (Map 4).Known from Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada.
Comments.Schistoglossa brunswickensis has genital structures similar to S. charlottae and S. hampshirensis and is probably closely related to these species.Etymology.Th e specifi c name hampshirensis, an adjective derived from the state of New Hampshire, where the species was found.New Hampshire, in turn, was named after the county of Hampshire in England.Gender masculine.
Description.Body length 1.8-1.9mm, width 0.3 mm, approximately uniformly dark brown with tarsi, antennal bases and mouthparts paler (Fig. 5); integument with weak microsculpture, sculpticells irregularly hexagonal, pubescence short, except for slightly longer on head and abdomen, yellowish-brown in artifi cial light, moderately dense.Head approximately round and slightly elongate, feebly carinate basally, tempo- ra approximately as long as three times the maximal diameter of eye (Fig. 5); antennae slim with articles 5-10 moderately transverse (Fig. 5); pronotum slightly transverse, broadly rounded laterally and posteriorly, broadest in basal half, pubescence directed anteriorly on apical third of the midline and obliquely laterally elsewhere (Fig. 5); elytra short and strongly transverse, subparallel, hind margin approximately straight, pubescence directed obliquely or straight posteriad (Fig. 5); abdomen parallel-sided, three basal tergites strongly impressed basally (Fig. 5).Male.Tergite 8 slightly emarginated apically and bearing irregular crenulation and two larger lateral teeth (Fig. 47); sternite 8 elongate and slightly produced apically (Fig. 48).Median lobe of the aedeagus moderately broad and fl attened, venter of tubus arcuate, apex slightly produced ventrally (Figs 45,46), apical sclerites of internal sac V-shaped in dorsal view (Fig. 44); paramere as illustrated (Fig. 43).Female.Tergite 8 truncate apically and bearing minute emargination (Fig. 50); sternite 8 broadly rounded apically and pointed (Fig. 51).Spermatheca S-shaped, with tubular capsule, stem narrow and sinuate (Fig. 49).Bionomics.Adults were captured in Salix, Vaccinium and Chamaedaphne leaf litter, in July and September.Th e New Hampshire specimens were collected at elevations of 5200-5700 feet and the only Quebec specimen was found on Mount Albert at 3,700 feet, suggesting possible northern affi liation for this species.Th e New Brunswick specimen was captured in eastern white cedar swamp, in moss and leaf litter near a brook in April.
Geographic distribution (Map 5).Known from Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada and New Hampshire in the United States.
Comments.Schistoglossa hampshirensis has genital structures similar to those of S. campbelli, to which it is probably closely related.Diagnosis.Th e subgenus Boreomorpha may be characterized by the following combination of characters: antennal articles 5-10 slightly elongate ; eyes moderately-sized (Figs 6-8); postocular area well developed and about as long as twice the maximal diameter of eye as seen from above ; postocular carina weak, present only basally or obsolete; median lobe of aedeagus with bulbus and tubus streamlined in dorsal view (Figs 53,61,69), internal sac without V-shaped structure typical for the subgenus sensu stricto but with two lunar-shaped subapical structures easily visible in lateral view (Figs 53,62,70); male tergite 8 broadly arcuate apically, apical margin entire and without lateral teeth and crenulation (Figs 55,63,71); spermatheca clubshaped and with approximately spherical capsule (Figs 57,65,73).

Schistoglossa sphagnorum
Etymology.Sphagnorum is an adjective derived from Sphagnum, the major plant constituent of the habitat where the species was typically found.Gender masculine.
Bionomics.Schistoglossa sphagnorum appears to be associated with open, sun-exposed calcareous eastern white cedar (Th uja occidentalis L.) fens with shrubby cinquefoil (Pentaphylloides fl oribunda (Pursh) A. Love), circumneutral Carex fens adjacent to areas with eastern white cedar, and tamarack bogs or fens, rather than true acidic bogs (e.g.black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.)BSP, bogs).Adults of this species were captured in Sphagnum (by treading or sifting Sphagnum) in these habitats.Adults were captured in moist Sphagnum in Carex hummocks and in sphagnum and litter at the base of trees near the margin of Carex marshes (circumneutral fens) and in eastern white cedar fens, or in Sphagnum hummocks near the margin of a tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch) fen or bog.In New Brunswick, this species becomes active very early in the spring (late March and May) shortly after the snow has melted in open sun-exposed areas (these may be overwintering sites for this species) and when snow is often still present in the adjacent forests.
Geographic distribution (Map 5).Known only from New Brunswick, but probably more broadly distributed in northern Canada.
Comments.Schistoglossa sphagnorum is externally similar to the other members of this genus but the shape of the apical part of the median lobe in lateral view and the shape of the spermatheca are distinct despite overall similarity to those of S. carexiana and S. blatchleyi.Holotype (female): CANADA, British Columbia, Queen Charlotte Is., 8.8 km SW Tow Hill, J.M. Campbell;22.VIII.1983, 83-108, treading Sphagnum & Carex at edge of marsh (CNC).Paratypes: CANADA, British Columbia, Queen Charlotte Is., 8.8 km SW Tow Hill, J.M. Campbell;22.VIII.1983, 83-108, treading Sphagnum & Carex at edge of marsh (CNC) 2 males, 4 females, (LFC) 2 males, 1 female.

Schistoglossa carexiana
Etymology.Carexiana, an adjective derived from Carex, the major plant constituent of the habitat where the species was found.Gender feminine.
Bionomics.Adults were captured by treading Sphagnum and Carex at edge of marsh in August.
Geographic distribution (Map 6).Known only from the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia, Canada.
Bionomics.In New Brunswick, S. blatchleyi often occurs with S. sphagnorum, but in a wider variety of wetland habitats than S. sphagnorum.Adults were captured in or on the margin of circumneutral Carex marshes and fens by treading sedges and Sphagnum into water or sifting litter at the base of trees, in Sphagnum hummocks on margin of tamarack (Larix laricina) bogs, red maple swamps in moist leaves near vernal pools and leaves at base of trees, wet alder swamps in leaf litter and grass on hummocks, in moss and litter at the base of trees in calcareous eastern white cedar (Th uja occidentalis) fens with shrubby cinquefoil (Pentaphylloides fl oribunda A. Love).A few adults were collected in fl ood debris along a river margin.In New Brunswick, this species becomes active very early in the spring (late March and April) shortly after the snow has melted in open sun-exposed areas, usually at the base of trees and when snow is often still present in the adjacent forests.Th ese sites may be overwintering sites.Adults were collected from March to July in New Brunswick.Elsewhere, adults were captured in riparian habitats in July and August.Comments.Schistoglossa blatchleyi is externally similar in appearance to the other members of the genus and in particular to S. carexiana and S. sphagnorum.Examining the genital structures is essential for defi nitive identifi cation of the three species.

Map 1 .
Collection localities in Canada of S. charlottae.

Map 2 .
Collection localities in Canada of S. campbelli.

Map 5 .
Collection localities in Canada and the United States of S. hampshirenis and S. sphagnorum.

Map 7 .
Collection localities in Canada of S. blatchleyi.