Introduced leaf beetles of the Maritime Provinces, 7: Cassida rubiginosa Muller and Cassida flaveola Thunberg (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1811 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA ◽  
Laurent Lesage

Cassida rubiginosa Müller is newly recorded in Nova Scotia and on Prince Edward Island. Cassida flaveola Thunberg is newly recorded in Nova Scotia, on Prince Edward Island, and in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. The systematics, identification, introduction history, distribution, zoogeography, biology, parasitism, predation, host plant preferences, and biocontrol potential of both species are surveyed in detail. Early records of C. flaveola are also recounted and questions are posed with respect to its presence and origins in the region and whether it may have been introduced via human agency. Although previously considered an introduced Palearctic species, recent evidence indicates that C. flaveola is, at least in part, a native species with a Holarctic distribution.

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2047 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURENT LESAGE ◽  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA

The taxonomy, nomenclature, identification, introduction history, biology (reproduction, phenology, parasites, predators, host plants), biocontrol potential, susceptibility to pesticides, and economic importance of Gastrophysa polygoni (Linnaeus) in North America are reviewed. This information is part of continuing surveys and research on the adventive leaf beetles of Canada with particular reference to the Maritime Provinces. Known provincial records are confirmed and new locality records are reported for the widely distributed G. polygoni. The introduction timelines and dispersal of the beetle in North America are discussed. Clearly G. polygoni must have been established early in the settlement of North America because reports from the first half of the 19th century already indicated that the species was widely established and common in many locations in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Gastrophysa polygoni is beneficial when it feeds on weeds such as Polygonum spp, Fallopia spp, or Rumex spp. It can be a minor pest of cultivated buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.)


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2610 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURENT LESAGE ◽  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA

The taxonomy, nomenclature, identification, introduction history, biology, and economic importance of Chaetocnema concinna (Marsham, 1802) are reviewed, and its status as pest or beneficial insect is discussed. While it is the most important pest of sugar beet in Europe, its economic importance has not yet been demonstrated in North America. Chaetocnema concinna is widely distributed in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and presently known from only two localities in New Brunswick. On the basis of voucher specimens available, we determined that it was introduced in these provinces in the late 1980s. Since C. concinna is associated with many species of plants and can be either harmful or beneficial, we consider that “brassy flea beetle” is the most appropriate popular name available.


2006 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Majka ◽  
Andrew R. Cline

AbstractThe Nitidulidae and Kateretidae of the Maritime provinces of Canada are surveyed. Forty-eight species are now known to occur in the region. Twenty-six are newly recorded in Nova Scotia and nine are newly recorded on Prince Edward Island. One Palearctic species, Soronia grisea (L.), is reported for only the second time in North America. Six other nonnative species have been intercepted. One new synonym, Glischrochilus sanguinolentussanguinolentus (Olivier, 1790) (= Glischrochilus sanguinolentusrubromaculatus (Reitter, 1873) syn. nov.), is designated. Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island appear to have a depauperate fauna, perhaps reflecting an island-related diminution of species, a comparative lack of collection effort, or a combination of both. An examination of the Nova Scotia fauna indicates several distribution patterns within the province. Introduced species constitute a sizeable component of the region's fauna, with four new introductions being reported here.


2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Klymko ◽  
Paul Catling ◽  
Jeffrey B. Ogden ◽  
Robert W. Harding ◽  
Donald F. McAlpine ◽  
...  

We provide an updated checklist of Orthoptera and their allies for each Maritime province of Canada with details for 21 new species records. Drumming Katydid (Meconema thalassinum), recorded from Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Sprinkled Grasshopper (Chloealtis conspersa), recorded from New Brunswick (NB) are reported for the first time from the Maritimes as a whole. We report range extensions in the Maritime region for Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; NB), Treetop Bush Katydid (Scudderia fasciata; NS), Short-legged Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus brevipes; PEI), Spotted Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus maculatus; PEI), Roesel’s Shield-backed Katydid (Roeseliana roesellii; NS), and Black-horned Tree Cricket (Oecanthus nigricornis; PEI). Short-winged Mole Cricket (Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus; NB) and European Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa; NS) are reported as adventives (non-native species that are believed to be not yet established), new to Canada from the Maritimes. Other new records for species not known to be established are Lined Earwig (Doru taeniatum; NS), Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; PEI), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana; NB), Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta brunnea; PEI), Smooth Cockroach (Nyctibora laevigata; NB), West Indian Leaf Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis; NB), an unidentified Parcoblatta species (NB), Brown-banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa; PEI), Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa; NB), and American Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca americana; NS).


2006 ◽  
Vol 138 (5) ◽  
pp. 602-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Majka ◽  
Joyce Cook ◽  
Susan Westby

AbstractSeven species of introduced Carabidae are newly reported in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Trechus quadristriatus (Schrank), Amara ovata (Fabricius), and Harpalus rubripes (Duftschmid) are newly recorded in Atlantic Canada as a whole. Possible modes of introduction of these species to the region are discussed. Several may have been introduced in association with dry ballast shipments. Some may have arrived via natural dispersion from neighbouring areas; others appear to have been present and undetected for a considerable time. The possible impact of such introductions is also discussed. Synanthropic environments have higher proportions of introduced species than relatively undisturbed, native habitats. Some adventive species do become widespread in native environments; however, negative impacts on native species may not be readily apparent.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1573 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA

The beetle families of the Bostrichiformia—the Derodontidae, Dermestidae, Bostrichidae, and Anobiidae – in the Maritime Provinces of Canada are surveyed. Seventy-four native and established introduced species are now known to occur including 30 found in New Brunswick, 65 in Nova Scotia, and 29 on Prince Edward Island. Seven species are newly recorded from New Brunswick, 24 from Prince Edward Island, and 37 from Nova Scotia for a total of 68 new provincial records. A total of 31 species are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces as a whole, three of which, Dinoderus minutus (Fabricius), Ernobius filicornis LeConte, and Ernobius granulatus LeConte, are newly recorded in Canada. Two species, Ptilinus pruinosus Casey and Caenocara oculata (Say), are removed from the faunal list of New Brunswick, and one subspecies, Attagenus unicolor unicolor (Brahm), is removed from the faunal list of Prince Edward Island since no specimens or published records could be found to support their presence.        Additional records of six other exotic species intercepted at ports and points in the region, but not established here, are also reported. A specimen of the Palearctic Ptinus bicinctus Sturm collected in 1915 in Nova Scotia, establishes a new early timeline for this species in North America. The fauna of the region is distinguished by the very large proportion (37 of 74 species, i.e. 50%) of which is introduced. It is also distinguished by the large proportion (22 of 37 species, i.e. 60%) of the indigenous, native fauna that is apparently rare, perhaps as a result of the historical impact of forest management practices on these wood-boring, saproxylic species. The fauna is further evaluated from both zoogeographic and ecological perspectives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Colin J. Chapman ◽  
C. Sean Blaney ◽  
David M. Mazerolle

We conducted a review of herbarium collections of the Wintercress genus (Barbarea W.T. Aiton) from the Maritime provinces. Most specimens previously determined to be the regionally rare native species Erect-fruit Wintercress (Barbarea orthoceras Ledebour) are in fact the uncommon exotic Small-flowered Wintercress (Barbarea stricta Andrzejowski). The latter species is here reported as new to Atlantic Canada, where it is scattered but widespread in the three Maritime provinces. Only three collections (two from New Brunswick and one from Nova Scotia) were confirmed as B. orthoceras. Its known range extent and area of occupancy in the Maritimes has been significantly revised, and B. orthoceras is now considered potentially extirpated in New Brunswick and extremely rare in Nova Scotia. One collection from Nova Scotia was referred to another rare exotic species, Early Wintercress (Barbarea verna (Miller) Ascherson), which represents the first record for the Maritimes.


Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1154 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA ◽  
DAVID B. MCCORQUODALE

New records of Coccinellidae in the Maritime Provinces of Canada are reported. The known fauna of the region consists of 47 species: 41 in Nova Scotia, 39 in New Brunswick, and 21 in Prince Edward Island. Of these, records are provided for 13 species newly recorded from Nova Scotia and 14 from Prince Edward Island. Two species, Diomus amabilis (LeConte) and Naemia seriata seriata Melsheimer, are newly recorded in Canada. Didion punctatum (Melsheimer) is removed from the fauna of PEI, and Coccidula lepida LeConte is removed from the fauna of NS, and Scymnus impexus Mulsant is removed from the faunas of NS and NB. Records of two adventive species not established in the region are also reported. Collecting effort in the three provinces and their sub-regions is briefly analyzed and compared. Biogeographic observations are provided in relation to the composition of the fauna as a whole, and of disjunct populations of six Nova Scotia coccinellids, several of which appear to be members of a coastal plain fauna that extends from New England to southern Nova Scotia. The potential vulnerability of the coccinellid fauna is discussed in the context of both adventive species in the region, and habitat loss and conservation.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1546 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER G. MAJKA

The Erotylidae and Endomychidae of the Maritime Provinces are surveyed. Fifteen species are now known from the region, fourteen in Nova Scotia, seven in New Brunswick, and four on Prince Edward Island. Thirteen new provincial records (seven from Nova Scotia, three from New Brunswick, and three from Prince Edward Island) are reported. Four erotylids, Dacne quadrimaculata (Say), Triplax dissimulator (Crotch), Triplax flavicollis Lacordaire, Triplax macra LeConte; and two endomychids, Rhanidea unicolor (Ziegler) and Lycoperdina ferruginea LeConte, are newly recorded in the Maritime Provinces as a whole. New records of the rare endomychid, Hadromychus chandleri Bousquet & Leschen, are reported. The fauna is examined in a regional zoogeographic context, paying particular attention to the insular faunas of Cape Breton and Prince Edward Islands. Attention is also drawn to the number of species that have been very rarely collected. This apparent scarcity may be related to the long history of forest management in the region, in particular the effects of intensive forestry on the communities of forest fungi on which these species feed and depend. Attention is drawn to the importance of ongoing research to monitor their populations and assess how these species may be employed as indicators of the overall health forest ecosystems.


2008 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
pp. 690-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Majka ◽  
Patrice Bouchard ◽  
Yves Bousquet

AbstractThe Tenebrionidae of the Maritime Provinces of Canada are surveyed. Forty-eight species have been reported from the region. Eleven of these species (ten Palearctic and one Nearctic) have been introduced to the region, five of which are apparently now extirpated. Dates of first detection of these species are provided for each province and North America. Thirteen species are newly recorded in New Brunswick, 25 in Nova Scotia, and 15 on Prince Edward Island, for a total of 53 new provincial records. Of these, 18 species including Bolitophagus corticola Say, Neatus tenebrioides (Palisot de Beauvois), Helops gracilis Bland, Blapstinus substriatus Champion, Hymenorus obesus Casey, Hymenorus picipennis Casey, Hymenorus pilosus (Melsheimer), Mycetochara bicolor (Couper), Mycetochara binotata (Say), Mycetochara fraterna (Say), Platydema excavatum (Say), Platydema teleops Triplehorn, Corticeus praetermissus (Fall), Alobates pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), Haplandrus fulvipes (Herbst), Xylopinus saperdioides (Olivier), an undescribed species of Paratenetus Spinola, and an undescribed species of Neatus LeConte are newly recorded for the Maritime Provinces as a whole. One of these, Helops gracilis, is recorded for the first time in Canada. The fauna is discussed from the perspective of the patterns of distribution of species in the region and their possible underlying causes. Island faunas are discussed, as is the saproxylic component of the fauna, with a brief consideration of the importance of this trophic group in the dynamics of forest ecosystems in the region.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document