New species and distributional records of Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Ontario, Canada, with a checklist of recorded species

Abstract The Aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Ontario were reviewed in the context of recently studied material, primarily from insect surveys conducted by the University of Guelph Insect Collection (Ontario, Canada). Aleochara daviesi Klimaszewski & Brunke sp. n., Agaricomorpha websteri Klimaszewski & Brunke sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) alesi Klimaszewski & Brunke sp. n., Dinaraea backusensis Klimaszewski & Brunke sp. n., and Strigota obscurata Klimaszewski & Brunke sp. n. are described as new to science. We also report 47 new Ontario records and 24 new Canadian records. Callicerus rigidicornis (Erichson) and Alevonota gracilenta (Erichson) are newly reported from North America as adventive species. A checklist, with Canadian distributions by province, of the 224 species of Aleocharinae known from Ontario is given. The following species are placed in subjective synonymy with Dexiogyia angustiventris (Casey): (Dexiogyia asperata (Casey) syn. n., Dexiogyia abscissa (Casey) syn. n., Dexiogyia tenuicauda (Casey) syn. n., Dexiogyia intenta (Casey) syn. n., Dexiogyia alticola (Casey) syn. n.). The following species are placed in subjective synonymy with Acrotona subpygmaea (Bernhauer): (Acrotona avia (Casey) syn. n., Acrotona puritana (Casey) syn. n.). Lectotypes are designated for Thiasophila angustiventris Casey, Thiasophila asperata Casey, Ischnoglossa intenta Casey, Oxypoda rubescans Casey, Chilopora americana Casey, Chilopora fuliginosa Casey, Coprothassa smithi Casey, Atheta subpygmaea Bernhauer, Colpodota puritana Casey, Strigota seducens Casey, Trichiusa compacta Casey, Trichiusa hirsuta Casey and Trichiusa robustula Casey.

en using an image processing system (Nikon SMZ 1500 stereoscopic microscope, Nikon Digital Camera DXM 1200F, and Adobe Photoshop software). Habitus photographs of all included species are provided, while genitalia are illustrated only for those species whose genitalia have not been shown in recent publications. Maps of each species' distribution in Ontario, Canada were prepared using ARC MAP and Adobe Photoshop. In the species accounts, distributions are given by province or state (Canada, U.S.A.) or by country (elsewhere). These territories are abbreviated using Canada Post and United States Postal Service standards.
Morphological terminology mainly follows that used by Seevers (1978) and Ashe in Newton et al. (2000). The ventral (=parameral) 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 of the tubus; the opposite side is referred to as the dorsal (=abparameral) part.
Material was examined from the following collections: Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Aleochara by the following combination of characters: antennomere 4 subquadrate and 5-10 slightly transverse (Fig. 2); eyes extremely large, protruding laterally and close to frontal margin, postocular area of head about as large as eye in lateral view, postocular carina strong and complete; pronotum slightly transverse, with basal margin arcuate; elytra slightly longer than pronotum; abdomen subparallel for most of its length; basal metatarsomere slightly longer than the following tarsomere, tarsal claws exceptionally large, narrowly elongate; median lobe of aedeagus with large and narrowly elongate crista apicalis, tubus in lateral view swollen ventrally and sharply produced apically (Fig. 80). Aleochara daviesi is very similar externally to the western North American Aleochara lobata Klimaszewski from which it may be readily distinguished by the shape of the median lobe.
Description. Body length 4.9 mm; black with legs, elytra (except narrowly at base) and abdominal tergites VII and VIII, rust brown; punctation of forebody coarse, dense and flattened, interspaces between punctures with fine meshed microsculpture (Fig. 2); head broadest apically with very short frons and with strong and complete postocular carina, pubescence of dorsal surface directed toward midline of disc, eyes extremely large, protruding laterally, and close to frontal margin of head, postocular area about as long as eye; antennae with antennomeres 1-3 elongate, antennomere 4 subquadrate and 5-10 slightly transverse; pronotum slightly transverse, shorter than elytra, pubescence directed obliquely posteriad from midline of disc, punctation flattened and forming transversely impressed line at base of disc; elytra with posterior margin nearly straight with slight lateral emargination, pubescence directed lateroposteriad from suture; abdomen subparallel for most of its length, tergites II-IV with deep and V with shallow impression, impressions with dense punctures separated from each other by a distance equal to or less than diameter of a puncture, punctures often touching; basal metatarsomere slightly longer than the following segment; tarsal claws exceptionally large, elongate and with surface smooth.
Female: Unknown. Distribution. Presently known only from Backus Woods, an old growth deciduous forest in southern Ontario. Aleochara daviesi almost certainly occurs in the eastern United States and elsewhere in southern Canada.
Bionomics. The holotype was collected by submerging forest litter near the margins of forest pools (some permanent). Other members of the subgenus Echochara are inhabitants of mammal burrows or caves (Klimaszewski 1984). As there are no cave systems at the type locality, we suspect that Aleochara daviesi occurs in the former situation. Although the staphylinids occurring in groundhog (Marmota monax (L.)) burrows have been sampled (Klimaszewski 1984, Smetana 1971, Smetana 1995 the fauna in burrows/nests of other mammals in eastern North America is essentially unknown. Future survey work in the nests of Nearctic moles, shrews and rodents is warranted. Etymology. This species is dedicated to our colleague Anthony Davies (CNC, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) in recognition of his contribution to the knowledge of Canadian Staphylinidae and in appreciation of his assistance over the years in specimen loans, distributional records and curatorial matters, especially those relevant for this project.
Comments. This species may be distinguished from all eastern Tinotus but Ti. caviceps based on the combination of reddish body and elytra with short, bristlelike setae that are directed obliquely laterad . The aedeagi and spermathecae of Ti. trisectus and Ti. caviceps are extremely similar and there was previously some doubt whether these two species were distinct due to the limited available material of Ti. trisectus . Gusarov (2003a) also followed this concept of the two species, corrected a synonymy and provided additional records for Ti. trisectus. After examination of Ontario specimens of Ti. caviceps and Ti. trisectus we provide further evidence to maintain the status of these species based on the following consistent and unambiguous differences: internal sac of aedeagus of Ti. caviceps with lower sclerite hooked ventrally in lateral view, not hooked in Ti. trisectus; in both sexes, antennomere III of Ti. caviceps strongly flattened and broadened in lateral view, cylindrical in Ti. trisectus; elytral suture of Ti. caviceps slightly but distinctly shorter than length of pronotum at midline, approximately the same length or longer in Ti. trisectus.
Tinotus trisectus appears to prefer open habitats including woodland edges, agricultural fields and oak savannah. Previously, nothing was known about its habitat associations. This species is probably broadly distributed across North America, reaching its northern limit in southern Canada.

Tribe Hoplandriini Casey, 1910
Hoplandria klimaszewskii Génier, 1989 http://species-id.net/wiki/Hoplandria_klimaszewskii  (Génier 1989 Comments. This is the only eastern species of Platandria  and the first record of this species for Canada. Hanley (2003) reported Platandria from Canada (Ontario) for the first time in a summary of its general distribution but without locality information. Little is known about the biology of Platandria except that they are associated with the flowers of various shrubs (Ashe in Newton et al. 2000), despite an older account of an association with fungi (Blatchley 1910). The above specimens were collected in the flowers of Flowering Dogwood, a species confined in Canada to the Carolinian region of southern Ontario. As far as known, Platandria carolinae is similarly distributed in Canada, possibly indicating a staphylinid-plant association though this species was not among the assemblage of Coleoptera found on Flowering Dogwood by Rhoades et al. (2011) in Tennessee.

Tribe Oxypodini Thomson, 1859
Amarochara brevios Assing, 2002 http://species-id.net/wiki/Amarochara_brevios Fig. 10 Comments. This species is distinguished from other Nearctic Amarochara based on the extremely dense punctation of the abdominal tergites, weak microsculpture of the forebody and shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus in lateral view.
Amarochara brevios was previously known only from the holotype collected in Kansas via flight intercept trap. Here, we report this species from Ontario, Canada based on numerous specimens collected using pitfall and raised pan traps in soybean fields (only 6 specimens kept as vouchers). While Am. inquilina (Casey) and Am. formicina Assing are associated with mound-building Formica ants, other species of the genus appear to be general inhabitants of decaying litter and only occasionally inhabit ant nests (Assing 2002). Currently nothing is known about the habitat preferences of other Nearctic Amarochara. Based on recent collections of Amarochara in Canada (Assing 2007; this study), species of this genus are poorly collected but widespread across eastern North America and all four Nearctic species are now reported from Canada (see below). Blatchley, 1910 http://species-id.net/wiki/Amarochara_fenyesi Fig. 11 (Assing 2002). Native.

Amarochara fenyesi
Comments. This species can by distinguished from other Nearctic Amarochara by the following combination of characters: head and pronotum with weak microsculpture; first segment of metatarsus about as long as second to fourth segments combined; punctation of abdominal tergites sparse (Assing 2002(Assing , 2007. The shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus is also distinctive in lateral view. All specimens of this species with collection data were collected in forested reserves using flight intercept traps (Assing 2002, this (Moore and Legner 1975;Seevers 1978;Downie and Arnett 1996;Smetana 2004;Webster et al. 2009;Klimaszewski et al. 2011 Comments. All North American species of Dexiogyia were described by Casey (1894Casey ( , 1911 (as Thiasophila and Ischnoglossa) and differentiated based on slight differences in body proportions, punctation, pubescence and color. An examination of the relevant types revealed no differences between them in their aedeagi or spermathecae and slight differences in external morphology, which were attributed to intraspecific variation. Therefore, De. angustiventris was selected as the valid name for this species based on its appearance before De. asperata (Casey) in Casey (1894), and Dexiogyia asperata (Casey) syn. n., De. abscissa (Casey) syn. n., De. tenuicauda (Casey) syn. n., De. intenta (Casey) syn. n. and De. alticola (Casey) syn. n. are here placed in synonymy with De. angustiventris (Casey). To provide nomenclatural stability we have selected and designated lectotypes for Th. angustiventris Casey, Th. asperata Casey and Is. intenta Casey. Additionally, one non-type specimen (Iowa, male) of De. angustiventris and five non-type specimens in Casey's collection (NMNH) of De. alticola (California, Siskiou Co., 3 females, 1 male, 1 sex?) were examined. Seevers (1978) noted that the European species Dexiogyia corticina (Erichson) was probably distinct from De. angustiventris based on the longer and shaper teeth on male tergite 8 in the latter species. After examination of dissected specimens of De. corticina from Leipzig, Saxonia, Germany (ZMB), we consider both as valid but extremely similar species. Dexiogyia corticina may be distinguished from the Nearctic De. angustiventris based on the tubus of the median lobe with a ventral swelling in lateral view (straight in De. angustiventris (Fig. 84) and the shorter, obtuse teeth of male tergite 8 (Fig. 85).
Dexiogyia has been associated with subcortical microhabitats, especially those of pine and in the 'burrows of wood-boring beetles' (Seevers 1978). This is the first record of the genus from Canada and due to its association with pine (Seevers 1978), we suspect this species to be transcontinental in Canada.  (Assing 1999;Smetana 2004;Majka and Klimaszewski 2008b;Webster et al. 2009). Adventive in Canada. Lohse, 1990 http://species-id.net/wiki/Ocyusa_canadensis Distribution. Canada: YT, ON; USA: AK (Lohse et al. 1990). Native. Comments. The specimens from boreal Ontario represent the first record of this species in eastern North America and suggest a transboreal distribution. Comments. This is the first collection of Oxypoda rubescans since its description based on a male specimen collected in the Catskill Mountains of New York (Casey 1911). The aedeagus of this species is illustrated for the first time (Fig. 90). This species is similar in habitus to Oxypoda hiemalis Casey but is immediately differentiated by the elytra, which are longer than the pronotum at suture. Oxypoda rubescans may be easily recognized by the distinctively shaped median lobe of the aedeagus in lateral view (Fig. 90). To promote nomenclatural stability, we designate a lectotype for this species here.  Comments. This is the first record of Parocyusa americana since its description based on a female specimen collected from Peekskill, New York (Casey 1906). This species is easily recognized to genus by its habitus and the only other known Nearctic species (Pa. fuliginosa (Casey)) is darker, with a slightly shorter and more densely punctate pronotum, and has quadrate to slightly transverse antennomeres 8-10 (see Fig. 28 in Klimaszewski et al. 2011 (Seevers 1978). Native. Comments. This species was recorded from Canada for the first time by Klimaszewski et al. (2011) based on a specimen collected in Labrador, Newfoundland. The identification of this specimen was based on information provided in Seevers (1978) because the type material could not be located in the NMNH. This material was recently found and we here confirm the identity of the Newfoundland specimen as Pa. fuliginosa, newly record it from Ontario and designate a lectotype to promote nomenclatural stability. Parocyusa fuliginosa has been collected in much the same way as Pa. americana and we expect both species to occur broadly in eastern North America in habitats near running water.

Tribe Tachyusini Thomson 1859
Brachyusa helenae (Casey, 1911) http://species-id.net/wiki/Brachyusa_helenae Fig. 19 Distribution. Canada: YT, NT, ON, NL; USA: AK, MT (Campbell and Davies 1991;Klimaszewski, Langor et al. 2011;Klimaszewski et al. 2012). Native. Comments. This is the first record of this species from eastern North America. Gnypeta helenae is indistinguishable externally from Gn. canadensis Klimaszewski, which was described based on characters of the male and female genitalia . The authors noted that a wide geographic range of specimens was not available for examination and further study may necessitate re-examination of these species concepts. Study of recent material of both species from the same locality in Haldimand-Norfolk Region, Ontario, Canada confirmed that Gn. helenae and Gn. canadensis are indeed separate but cryptic species. Specimens of Gn. helenae with label data have been collected on the banks of rivers and lakes and from a eutrophic pond edge (Ontario specimen), while those of Gn. canadensis were collected in forested wetland habitats and some of these were hand collected from moss on deadwood (Ontario material). Further collecting in wet microhabitats may reveal ecological differences in these two species.  (Klimaszewski 1982b;Klimaszewski and Génier 1986;Klimaszewski and Frank 1992b;Majka and Klimaszewski 2010). Native. Klimaszewski, 1982 http://species-id.net/wiki/Myllaena_potawatomi  (Klimaszewski 1982b;Klimaszewski and Frank 1992b). Native.
Description. Body small, compact and oval in outline; length 1.6-1.8 mm; body dark brown with legs, maxillary palpi and 2-3 basal antennomeres yellowish-brown, or body dark brown with pronotum and elytra slightly paler, and appendages and basal part of abdomen yellowish-brown (Fig. 24); forebody with strong meshed microsculpture, punctation coarse, sparse and flatly impressed, pubescence sparse and approximately evenly distributed on forebody; head transverse and produced anteriad, eyes large and longer than postocular area, pubescence directed posteriad and obliquely mediad; ligula narrowly elongate and divided almost to base; antennae slightly incrassate, basal 3 antennomeres elongate, 4 subquadrate, 5-10 increasingly broadening apically, 11 oval and elongate; maxillary palpi with 4 articles, penultimate article expanded apically, and apical article acicular; pronotum strongly transverse, base strongly sinuate, converging apicad, disc with pubescence directed posteriad except for some setae at base directed laterad; elytra at suture distinctly longer than pronotum, pubescence directed straight posteriad; abdomen gradually but weakly tapering apicad, tergites II and III impressed basally, and with elevated punctures.
Male. Tergite VIII transverse, shallowly emarginate medially at the apical margin and with short medio-apical carinate protuberance (Fig. 104); sternite VIII broadly rounded apically (Fig. 105); median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with large bulbus and U-shaped, narrow tubus with broad and angular swelling subapically; flagellum long, thin, everted and about 3 times as long as tubus (difficult to see in Fig. 103).
Female. Tergite VIII strongly transverse and similar to that of male but lacking median carina; sternite VIII transverse and arcuate apically; spermatheca with spherical capsule and inconspicuous short stem, in general similar to those of Gyrophaena and Eumicrota.
Distribution. Known from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Agaricomorpha websteri is probably broadly distributed in northeastern North America, south of the boreal forest zone.
Bionomics. Little is known about the natural history of this species but all specimens were collected in deciduous forests, mostly by passive, above-ground traps indicating high flight capability. Other species of the genus are found on woody and leathery polypore fungi (Ashe in Newton et al. 2000), which commonly grow on dead or dying standing trees. Interestingly, several individuals were captured by Lindgren funnel traps, which typically attract species associated with this type of coarse woody debris.
Etymology. This species is dedicated to our colleague Reginald P. Webster of Charters Settlement, New Brunswick, who collected the holotype and whose material has contributed much to the knowledge of Canadian biodiversity.
Comments. Agaricomorpha websteri is the only known species of the genus in eastern North America. This genus was erected by Ashe (1984) to accommodate Agaricomorpha apacheana (Seevers), which occurs in the southwestern United States and is not related to species of the Palaearctic genus Agaricochara Kraatz where it was originally described (Ashe 1984). The genus Agaricomorpha is distinctive among the North American Gyrophaenina for its divided ligula (Ashe in Newton et al. 2000) and strongly transverse pronotum with a distinctly sinuate base. Ashe (1984) listed Agaricomorpha 'undescr. sp. 3' as occurring in 'Canada' and Agaricomorpha websteri likely represents this taxon. Comments. This species has previously been associated with Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.) and some specimens have been collected inside spherical Red Oak galls (Klimaszewski and Majka 2007a). All Ontario specimens were collected in forests containing red oak or in open habitat with several small, Red Oaks. Red Oaks at the Barr property in Northumberland County possessed spherical galls but these were noticed late in the season and did not contain rove beetles when checked. Euvira micmac has also been collected from litter near water and from under sappy Populus bark (Webster et al. 2009, this study), and the association with red oak may be indirect, possibly involving a fungal food source that prefers oak tissue or the microclimate provided by oak galls.  (Seevers 1951;Campbell and Davies 1991;Majka and Klimaszewski 2008a;Klimaszewski et al. 2009;Klimaszewski et al. 2011). Adventive in Canada.

Gyrophaena affinis
Comments. This adventive species was accidentally listed as occurring in Ontario in  and was subsequently included as occurring there in other accounts of adventive Aleocharinae (Gouix and Klimaszewski 2007;Klimaszewski, Langor et al. 2010). The above data represent the first confirmed records of this species in Ontario, as early as 1925. Comments. This species was newly recorded from Nova Scotia by Majka and Klimaszewski (2010) in a species list for the Maritime Provinces, but specimen data were accidentally omitted from the body of the text (C. Majka, pers. comm.). One specimen was collected from mainland Nova Scotia and was identified by one of us (JK).  (Seevers 1951;Campbell and Davies 1991;Webster et al. 2012). Native.
Comments. This species was listed as questionably occurring in Ontario by Campbell and Davies (1991) based on the record from 'Canada' by Ashe (1984) (Seevers 1951;Webster et al. 2012). Native. Comments. The genus Phanerota is newly recorded in Canada based on specimens collected on mushrooms in extreme southern Ontario. This genus may reach its northern distributional limit in southern Ontario, as it was not reported in a recent review of New Brunswick Gyrophaenina ). ( (Klimaszewski et al. 2001;Smetana 2004;Webster et al. 2009;Klimaszewski et al. 2011). Native Holarctic species or adventive in Canada.  (Klimaszewski et al. 2001;Klimaszewsk et al. 2008;Majka and Klimaszewski 2008a;Webster et al. 2009;Majka and Klimaszewski 2011). Native.

Tribe Athetini Casey, 1910
Acrotona smithi (Casey, 1910) http://species-id.net/wiki/Acrotona_smithi Fig. 47 Comments. Acrotona smithi is newly recorded in Canada based on numerous collections across Ontario. Ontario material was compared with the type series of Ac. smithi from New York. This species is easily recognized amongst other northeastern Acrotona by the large and fusiform body (Oxypoda-like habitus), the distinctive shape of the aedeagus in lateral view (Figs 117-118), the broadly and shallowly emarginate female tergite VIII (Fig. 123), and, despite some variation, the general shape of the spermatheca (Figs 121-122). Acrotona smithi appears to be a common species inhabiting deciduous to mixed forests and semi-open habitat (e.g. oak savannah) and is probably broadly distributed across northeastern North America. Comments. In an online catalog of North American Athetini (Gusarov 2003b), Ac.avia is listed as a synonym of Ac. subpygmaea. In Majka et al. (2008), Acrotona avia (Casey) was provisionally maintained as a valid species because one of us (JK) was unable to study the aedeagus of the only male syntype of Ac. subpygmaea, which was missing or overcleared. After examination of additional material, we have discovered that the female syntype of Ac. subpygmaea is very distinctive for its deeply emarginate apex of sternite VIII (Fig. 131) and shape of the spermatheca (Fig. 129), characteristics shared by the female syntypes of Ac. avia. Additionally, both species do not differ externally. Therefore, to provide taxonomic stability for this common species, we here synonymize Ac. avia (Casey) with Ac. subpygmaea (Bernhauer) and designate a lectotype for the latter species. Majka et al. (2008) synonymyzed Ac. puritana (Casey) with Ac. avia (synonymy confirmed here), which now becomes a synonym of Ac. subpygmaea (Bernhauer). We here designate a lectotype for Ac. puritana (Casey). Specimens reported from New Brunswick and illustrated as Ac. subpygmaea in Klimaszewski et al. (2005b) represent an undescribed species that will be treated in a future publication.
There are some Canadian specimens currently identified as Ac. subpygmaea that possess very short elytra and slightly different sexual characters (R. Webster and J. Klimaszewski unpublished data) including one Ontario female [Backus Woods, Wetland trail, 42°39'54"N, 80°29'34"W, sugar maple dom. mesic forest, sift litter, 2.iv.2010]. Therefore, we recommend that identifications of Ac. subpygmaea be based on the distinctive sexual characteristics of either sex (Figs 125-131) until the Nearctic diversity of this genus is more adequately known. Acrotona subpygmaea is a common species occurring in a variety of forest litter microhabitats and has been collected in both spring and fall. We expect this species to occur broadly across northeastern North America. Comments. Alevonota gracilenta is recorded here for the first time in North America as an adventive species. It is rather easily recognized in North America by the narrow, linear habitus, small eyes and distinctive aedeagus with a long flagellum (Fig. 132).
Diagnosis. This species may be distinguished from all other Atheta (Microdota) species by the following combination of characters: body dark brown with legs, 2-3 basal antennomeres and elytra yellowish; forebody strongly glossy and with microsculpture; distal antennomeres only moderately transverse; male tergite VIII with distinctive shallow and wide emargination (Fig. 137), median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with large bulbus and straight tubus (Fig. 136), internal sac in lateral view with distinctive, large, curved sclerite that is bifurcate basally (Fig. 136); and spermatheca S-shaped, with elongate, tubular capsule that bears a moderately long and broad apical invagination, stem sinuate and apically looped (Fig. 139).
Male. Tergite VIII truncate apically and with shallow, wide emargination (Fig.  137); sternite VIII rounded apically or sometimes slightly pointed medially (Fig. 138); median lobe of aedeagus with large, broad bulbus and short triangular tubus in parameral view; in lateral view, tubus straight ventrally and narrowly rounded at apex (Fig.  136); internal sac in abparameral view with distinct structures as illustrated in Fig.  135, internal sac in lateral view with distinctive curved sclerite that is bifurcate basally (Fig. 136).
Distribution. Atheta alesi is currently only known from Ontario but is expected to occur broadly across eastern North America.
Bionomics. Nearly all specimens were collected from debris in groundhog (Marmota monax (L.)) burrows. Atheta alesi may be another member of the rich insect assemblage associated with groundhog burrows but further collections in this microhabitat are needed to confirm this. Although one specimen was collected in a raised pan trap placed in an agricultural hedgerow, other groundhog-associated staphylinids were collected in this series including Aleochara ocularis Klimaszewski and Bisnius pugetensis (Hatch).
Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr. Aleš Smetana, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in recognition of his excellent collections from groundhog (Marmota monax (L.)) burrows, which have revealed many interesting species that may be restricted to this microhabitat (e.g. species in Klimaszewski 1984, Smetana 1971, 1995. Comments. This species is tentatively assigned to the subgenus Microdota based on the following combination of characters present in other Canadian species: small body size, antennomeres 6-10 subquadrate to moderately transverse, Y-shaped ligula, simply formed median lobe of the aedeagus and overall shape of the spermatheca.  (Bernhauer 1907;Gusarov 2003a). Native.
Comments. This species was previously reported from Ontario by Bernhauer (1907) and Indiana and Michigan by Moore and Legner (1975) but these records were not among those verified by Gusarov (2003a) in his revision of this species concept. We therefore provide confirmation that this species occurs in Canada. Gusarov (2003a) remarked that all specimens seen of this species were females and suggested that this species may be parthenogenetic. Congruently, the Ontario specimen is also a female. Comments. The specimens form Ontario agree in most characteristics with British Columbian specimens of At. nescia except for the less robust antennae, particularly in males, and the median lobe in lateral view, with a slightly narrower tubus and more rounded apex (for illustrations of the genitalia of At. nescia see Figs 51-53 in Klimaszewski and Winchester 2002 under the synonymic name Atheta vancouveri Klimaszewski). The spermathecae of the two species are similarly shaped. Therefore we tentatively associate the Ontario specimens with At. nescia but more specimens are needed from a broader distributional range to fully establish their identity.
The Ontario specimens were captured in sparsely treed, open habitats including savannahs and an agricultural hedgerow. Similarly, the specimens of At. nescia collected in British Columbia were primarily collected in clear-cut forests (Klimaszewski and Winchester 2002, as At. vancouveri). Distribution. Canada: ON; western Palaearctic (Assing 2001;Gusarov 2003b). Adventive in Canada.

Callicerus obscurus
Comments. Callicerus obscurus is recorded from Canada for the first time based on Ontario specimens mostly collected in agricultural hedgerows. Gusarov (2003b) first reported this species from North America in an online catalog of North American Athetini based on specimens collected in Ontario (V. Gusarov, pers. comm). The 'undescribed Callicerus s.str.' from Ontario groundhog burrows mentioned by Ashe (in Newton et al. 2000) may in fact be this adventive species. Therefore, all Callicerus in North America may be introduced. Males of Ca. obscurus are easily recognized by their extremely elongate antennomere 10. In North America, Callicerus obscurus may be separated externally from Ca. rigidicornis by the more elongate pronotum (Fig. 64).
Callicerus obscurus inhabits open and forested habitats in its native range and was suggested to be largely subterranean by Assing (2001) based on highly seasonal (mostly spring) surface activity and the low numbers of individuals captured in each collection event. Comments. Callicerus rigidicornis is recorded from North America as an adventive species for the first time based on Ontario specimens collected in agricultural hedgerows. Males of this species do not have their antennomere 10 conspicuously elongate as in Ca. obscurus. Callicerus rigidicornis is separated from Ca. obscurus by the more transverse pronotum (Fig. 65). In both its native range and in Canada, this species is collected from the same habitats as Ca. obscurus though the true microhabitat may be subterranean (Assing 2001 Diagnosis. This species may be distinguished from all other Nearctic Dinaraea by the following combination of characters: postocular area slightly longer than eye; pronotum trapezoidal in form and slightly (not distinctly) transverse; antennomeres 1-3 elongate, 4-7 subquadrate, 8-10 slightly transverse; elytra flat, transverse, at suture about as long as pronotum; male tergite eight with median and lateral teeth (Fig. 147); and median lobe of aedeagus of distinctive shape in lateral view (Figs 146).
Male. Tergite VIII truncate apically with two lateral teeth and two median protuberances (Fig. 147); sternite VIII with apex arcuate but slightly pointed medially (Fig.  148); median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with moderately large bulbus and short tubus with angulate apex, ventral side of tubus weakly arcuate; internal sac in lateral view with a narrow, elongate and recurved sclerite (Fig. 146).
Female. Unknown. Distribution. At present, Dinaraea backusensis is known only from southern Ontario but should occur across eastern North America, at least as far north as southern Canada.
Bionomics. The holotype was collected in a sugar maple dominated forest with a rich diversity of other deciduous trees by sifting deep pockets of leaf litter beside large, old logs. Other native species of Dinaraea have been associated with subcortical habitats (Lohse et al. 1990).
Etymology. This species is named after Backus Woods, a 704-acre, old growth, Carolinian forest in Ontario, Canada where the holotype was collected. We would like to recognize the conservation efforts of the Nature Conservancy of Canada in this region and their recent work in acquiring this property for permanent protection.
Comments. Using previous literature, Dinaraea backusensis can be distinguished from all known Nearctic species of the genus except Di. borealis Lohse and Di. planaris (Mäklin) by the distinctive shape of the median lobe in lateral view (see figures in Klimaszewski et al. 2011). The male of Di. borealis has recently been discovered (to be described in a future publication) and clearly differs in the shape of the median lobe in lateral view. The aedeagus of the lectotype of Di. planaris is mounted in abparameral view (illustrated in Lohse and Smetana 1985) but Dinaraea backusensis differs from Di. planaris by the more elongate pronotum and male tergite VIII with median and lateral teeth (unmodified and truncate apically in Di. planaris). Dinaraea backusensis is most similar to the European species Di. linearis (Gravenhorst) but differs in the following characters: median lobe in lateral view angular at apex, shorter and much broader; internal sac in lateral view with long, recurved sclerite, about as long as bulbus (much shorter and talon-like in Di. linearis); and male tergite 8 with lateral projections longer and differently shaped than medial projections (lateral and medial projections similar in shape in Di. linearis). Dissected specimens from Denmark (no specific locality) were examined (ZMUC). The two taxa are nearly identical externally.

Philhygra jarmilae
Comments. The specimen from southern Ontario suggests a broad, transcontinental distribution in Canada for this recently described species. It likely occurs broadly in eastern United States as well.

Stethusa spuriella
Distribution Stethusa dichroa (Gravenhorst), were discovered in our material despite its widespread occurrence in the eastern United States; it is expected to occur in southern Ontario.
Diagnosis. Strigota obscurata is readily separated from the other Strigota species by the combination of: median lobe constricted basally in parameral view (Fig. 150), male and female tergite VIII with apical margin sharply produced (Fig. 152), the dark coloration, including the legs, the body size (2.2-2.5mm) and elytra at suture distinctly shorter than the pronotum at midline (Fig. 75).
Description. Body narrowly elongate, dark brown to black, with legs and/or tarsi brown, central disc of elytra sometimes with traces of reddish tinge, length 2.2-2.5 mm, moderately glossy, with dense, meshed microsculpture, pubescence short, dense and appearing somewhat silky; head convex, rounded posteriorly, postocular area at least slightly longer than the length of eye, pubescence directed towards midline of disc; antennae stout, antennomeres 1-3 strongly elongate, 4-5 subquadrate and 6-10 moderately transverse; pronotum slightly transverse, widest in basal third, pubescence  (Casey). Scale 1mm. directed obliquely posteriad, posteriad at midline; elytra transverse, at suture shorter than pronotum at midline, pubescence directed straight posteriad; abdomen subparallel with tergites II-IV deeply impressed basally; metatarsus with basal article as long as two following articles combined.
Female. Tergite and sternite VIII similar to those of male; spermatheca with clubshaped capsule bearing a small invagination, stem sinuate and coiled apically (Fig.  154). The spermatheca of this species is nearly identical to that of S. ambigua except for the capsule, which is more sharply deflexed and of a different shape (Fig. 154, compare with illustrations in Gusarov (2003a)).
Distribution. Presently, Strigota obscurata is known only from Ontario but it is expected to occur widely in northeastern North America.
Bionomics. Strigota obscurata occurs in many of the same habitats as Strigota ambigua and was the most commonly collected rove beetle in southern Ontario soybean fields, frequently co-occurring with the latter species (Brunke et al. in prep.).
Etymology. The specific name is the Latin word for 'darkened'. This is in reference to the distinct, overall darker body coloration compared to Strigota ambigua, the only other eastern species of the genus.
Comments. Prior to this publication there were five valid species of Strigota in North America: Str. ambigua (Erichson) with numerous synonyms (see Gusarov (2003a) For the purpose of nomenclatural stability, we here designate the first mentioned specimen as a lectotype and the other 5 as paralectotypes. The spermatheca of one of the paralectotypes was compared to our specimens of Str. obscurata and no important differences could be found; the only available aedeagus of Str. seducens was barely visible in the permanent mount and could not be compared in detail. However, Str. obscurata may be differentiated from Str. seducens by the combination of characters in the diagnosis and the uniformly colored elytra (light brown in centre of the disc in Str. seducens). The only other eastern species of the genus, Str. ambigua, is easily separated from Str. obscurata by the larger size (2.4-3.0mm), less produced tergite 8 in both sexes, differently shaped aedeagus and spermatheca (Fig. 150-151, 154 vs. illustrations in Gusarov (2003a)) and distinctly paler coloration of the appendages. Comments. The species of Trichiusa are currently under revision by V. Gusarov and so Tr. compacta is currently best recognized by the combination of habitus and the following sexual characters: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with tubus narrow, evenly subparallel and narrowly rounded apically (not sharp) (Fig. 156); spermatheca with moderately large, spherical and basally narrowed capsule bearing a deep apical invagination, stem C-shaped, looped and twisted posteriad (Fig. 157).

Trichiusa compacta
Trichiusa compacta appears to be forest inhabiting and was collected from a variety of passive traps and by sifting litter near vernal and semi-permanent forest pools. Comments. This species is currently recognizable only by the combination of habitus (Fig. 77) and the following sexual characters: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with tubus narrowed toward apex and sharply pointed apically (not rounded) ; spermatheca with large, spherical and basally narrowed capsule bearing a small apical invagination, stem relatively straight, looped and twisted posteriad (Fig. 160). Comments. This species is currently recognizable only by the combination of habitus (Fig. 78) and the following sexual characteristics: median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with tubus relatively broad, evenly subparallel and rounded apically (not sharp at apex) (Fig. 162); spermatheca with tubular capsule bearing large and deep apical invagination, stem sinuate, looped and twisted posteriad (Figs 163-164).

Trichiusa hirsuta
This species has been collected from the shoreline of the Great Lakes or from debris nearby. Further collecting is needed to determine whether or not Trichiusa robustula is typical of lakeshore habitat.

General discussion
This project is part of a recent effort to document the Canadian biodiversity of the large staphylinid subfamily Aleocharinae. Prior investigations have involved the faunas of Vancouver Island (BC) (Klimaszewski and Winchester 2002), Yukon Territory (Klimaszewski, Godin et al. 2008;Klimaszewski, Godin et al. 2012), 'arctic Canada' (Lohse, Klimaszewski et al. 1990), southeastern Quebec (Klimaszewski, Sweeney et al. 2007), Newfoundland (Klimaszewski, Langor et al. 2011) and the Maritime Provinces (many references e.g., Majka and Klimaszewski 2010). Identification of Ontario material was greatly facilitated by the aforementioned research but was challenging in some cases compared to that of other regions of Canada due to the presence of more 'southern' groups of species or genera not found elsewhere in Canada. In many cases, these specimens were left for future research involving comprehensive revisions of genera, especially those of Athetini. Once these studies are undertaken, the known diversity of Aleocharinae in Canada is expected to rise dramatically. Nevertheless, the present contribution substantially increased the known Ontario fauna by 53%. Although the specimens studied over the course of this project were from a variety of localities and survey projects, 62% of new distributional records were derived wholly or in part form material generated from a one-year Ontario arthropod survey, a partnership between the University of Guelph Insect Collection, Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. We feel that the results of the present study demonstrate that species-level inventories can contribute data that significantly enrich our knowledge of Canadian biodiversity, both adventive and native. In the United States, all-taxa biological inventory projects such as the Great Smokey Mountains ATBI and the Boston Harbor Islands ATBI are making similar contributions to our knowledge of arthropod biodiversity (examples for Coleoptera : Park, Carlton et al. 2010;Davidson and Rykken 2011).
Considering the high return of discoveries made during the present study from a relatively small amount of material, it is clear that the checklist of Ontario Aleocharinae provided here represents only a preliminary but important baseline. Undoubtedly, more new species await description and several adventive species known elsewhere in eastern Canada have not yet been recorded from Ontario. We hope that this new baseline will act as a useful intermediate step towards the documentation of Canada's arthropod biodiversity.  (Casey) BC, AB, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL Zyras planifer (Casey) ON †Considered adventive in North America.