Robert S. Anderson

The weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada, II: New records from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and regional zoogeography

Seventy-nine species of weevils are newly reported in Nova Scotia and 66 species are newly reported on Prince Edward Island, increasing the known provincial weevil faunas to 244 and 92 species, respectively. Thirty-six species are recorded for the first time in the Maritime Provinces; of these, Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsham), Listronotus dietzi OBrien, Corthylus columbianus Hopkins, and Orchidophilus aterrimus (Waterhouse) are recorded for the first time in Canada. Orchidophilus aterrimus has been collected only in exotic domesticated orchids and is not established in the wild. Fourteen species previously recorded on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, are reported from the provincial mainland. Four species — Curculio sulcatulus (Casey), Ceutorhynchus squamatus LeConte, Tachyerges niger (Horn), and Ips calligraphus (Germar) — are removed from the faunal list of Nova Scotia, and three species — Temnocerus cyanellus (LeConte), Curculio nasicus (Say), and Cryphalus ruficollis ruficollis Hopkins — are removed from the faunal list of Prince Edward Island. The combined known weevil fauna of the Maritime Provinces now totals 290 species. The adequacy of collection effort is discussed and in Nova Scotia, where collection effort has been greatest, distribution patterns of selected groups of species are examined. Island faunas are discussed with respect to those of Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island. Regional biogeographic patterns of species are also discussed, including possible disjunct populations in Nova Scotia and species that may not have crossed the isthmus of Chignecto to colonize Nova Scotia. Attention is drawn to the long history of introduced species in the region and to ongoing introductions through an examination of the earliest records for the 60 introduced species found in the region.

The weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada, I: New records from New Brunswick

Seventy-seven species of weevils are newly reported in New Brunswick, increasing the known provincial fauna to 206 species. Trichapion nigrum (Herbst), Ceutorhynchus semirufus LeConte, and Listronotus laramiensis (Angell) are recorded for the first time in Canada. Three species, Bagous planatus LeConte, Plocamus hispidulus LeConte, and Dryocoetes granicollis (LeConte), are removed from the provinces faunal list. Components of the fauna are discussed with a particular focus on the introduced species found in the province. Monitoring to detect changes of both native and introduced species is emphasized.

Geographic patterns of colour variation in North American Nicrophorus burying beetles (Coleoptera; Silphidae)

Adult individuals of the burying beetle species Nicrophorus defodiens Mannerheim, N. guttula Motschulsky, and N. investigator Zetterstedt show extensive geographic variation in elytral colour patterns, from an orange and black banded pattern to one where maculations are extremely reduced. Individuals with slightly to extensively reduced maculations are generally confined to Pacific coastal localities but, as variation is continuous and extremes are often sympatric, do not warrant separate specific or subspecific status. Examination of the geographic distribution of the colour of the basal article of the antennal club of N. guttula individuals shows the colour of the article to be associated with variation in elytral colour. This confirms that N. hecate Bland, previously characterized by a red basal article of the antennal club, is a junior synonym of N. guttula Motschulsky, previously characterized by a black basal article. The possible roles of thermoregulation and mimicry accounting for the variation in elytral colour are briefly discussed.

Burying beetle larvae: Nearctic Nicrophorus and Oriental Ptomascopus morio (Silphidae)

Abstract. Third instar larvae are described for the first time for the following species: Nicrophorus defodiens Mannerheim,N.guttula Motschulsky, N.hybridus Hatch and Angell, N.marginatus Fabricius, N.nigrita Mannerheim, N.obscurus Kirby,N.orbicollis Say and N.sayi Laporte, and are redescribed for N.investigator Zetterstedt, N.tomentosus Weber and Ptomascopus morio Kraatz. Keys are provided to larvae of the subfamilies of Silphidae, genera of Nicrophorinae and the known third instar larvae of Nearctic Nicrophorus.

Biology and Host Preferences of Cryptorhynchus melastomae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a Possible Biocontrol Agent for Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae) in Hawaii

ABSTRACT n The introduced plant Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae) poses a grave threat to Hawaiis native ecosystems and biodiversity. One potential candidate for classical biological control is Cryptorhynchus melastomae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae), a stem-boring weevil from Central and South America. This weevil feeds on M. calvescens in its native Costa Rica and has been successfully reared under greenhouse conditions. Comparison of its environmental conditions in Costa Rica with those in the Miconia infested areas of Hawaii indicates the latter is a suitable habitat for C. melastomae. C. melastomae has one or two generations per year. Adults feed on new stems, petioles, leaf buds, veins, and lamina, whereas larvae mine the stem until pupation. Adults appear to prefer saplings for oviposition and feeding. Under greenhouse conditions both adults and larvae can seriously damage and kill small M. calvescens. Preliminary host testing indicates that C. melastomae may be family specific on Melastomataceae. However, because Hawaii lacks native melastomes and has many other serious melastome weeds, a family specific insect may be suitable as a biocontrol agent in this case.

New Oxycoryninae from Central and South America: phylogenetic and biogeographical implications (Coleoptera: Belidae)

Abstract.u2002 Balanophorobius Anderson gen.n. and its type species, B. gamezi Anderson sp.n. (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Belidae) are described from the vicinity of Cerro de Oro in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. Adults were reared from larvae collected in mid‐March in flowers of an unidentified species of root parasitic Balanophoraceae, possibly Helosis cayennensis (Sw.) Spreng. Balanophorobius is characterized by small (<3.5u2003mm) size, a loosely articulated antennal club, fine golden pilosity covering the entire cuticle, a sculptured pronotum, and the presence of distinct elytral striae with the intervals between the striae somewhat convex, but not carinate. In addition, a second species of the previously monotypic Alloxycorynus Voss, A. whiteheadi Anderson sp.n., from Cuzco Province in Peru, is described. Known only from a single male specimen, this species is distinguished by its uniform pale brown body colour, apically acuminate prosternal process, mesosternal process expanded between the middle coxae into a ventrally directed, flat, platelike form, and the front tibia having a simple apical tooth. No information is available on its host plant associations. A reassessment of the phylogenetic relationships of Belidae including character states from adults of Balanophorobius is consistent with recently published results. The genera Hydnorobius, Oxycorynus, Alloxycorynus and Balanophorobius constitute a monophyletic clade, sister to the Parallocorynus–Rhopalotria clade, united in aspects of structure and natural history. However, relationships among the former four genera are unresolved. If one considers a host shift to Balanophoraceae from Hydnoraceae, then an arrangement placing Alloxycorynus and Balanophorobius as sister taxa, sister to Oxycorynus, sister to Hydnorobius, is favoured. Features of A. whiteheadi affirm the validity of the previously monotypic Alloxycorynus through the shared presence of a ventrally directed prosternal process and the innermost elytral costa effaced throughout most of its length. The discovery of Balanophorobius in Costa Rica is the first record of angiosperm root parasite‐associated Oxycoryninae from outside of South America and suggests a greater geographical range for these taxa than previously recorded.

Effect of small-scale forest management on fungivorous Coleoptera in old-growth forest fragments in southeastern Ontario, Canada

Fungivorous Coleoptera were sampled from old-growth and managed (selectively logged in 1999) hemlock–hardwood forests in southeastern Ontario to examine the effect of small-scale forest management on fungivore diversity in forest fragments. Sampling using flight-intercept traps and trunk-window traps for 22 weeks in 2003 yielded 11 888 beetles representing 73 species in 11 target families (Anthribidae, Cerylonidae, Endomychidae, Erotylidae, Leiodidae, Mycetophagidae, Scaphidiidae, Sphindidae, Tenebrionidae, Trogossitidae, and Zopheridae). The leiodid subfamily Leiodinae was the dominant taxon (10 386 individuals, 38 species). While old-growth stands had no recent logging and had higher volumes of coarse woody debris, species diversity and composition of fungivorous Coleoptera were similar between forest types, suggesting that the stand differences measured (recent logging history, volume of coarse woody debris) did not have a significant effect on beetle diversity in this study. Indicator species analysis showed that Triplax macra LeConte (Erotylidae) was strongly associated with old-growth stands, while Anisotoma blanchardi (Horn), Anogdus obsoletus (Melsheimer), Agathidium sp. 1 (Leiodidae), and Mycetina perpulchra (Newman) (Endomychidae) were associated with managed stands. The lack of difference observed between stand types may be related to the small size of the forest fragments or the relatively small scale of the disturbance.