DNA barcodes reveal 63 overlooked species of Canadian beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera)
Author
Pentinsaari, Mikko
Author
Anderson, Robert
Author
Borowiec, Lech
Author
Bouchard, Patrice
Author
Brunke, Adam
Author
Douglas, Hume
Author
Smith, Andrew B. T.
Author
Hebert, Paul D. N.
text
ZooKeys
2019
894
53
150
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.894.37862
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.894.37862
1313-2970-894-53
D11503CA5A574067817904E0C8C162C8
BAF8B2CC491254A3AC7E08368A2697B5
Pseudomedon obscurellus (Erichson, 1840)
Figure 19
Distribution.
Native to the western Palaearctic region, widespread in Europe and also reported from Algeria, Morocco, Madeira, Tunisia, Cyprus, and Turkey (
Schuelke
and Smetana 2015
). Adventive in the Neotropical region (Chile;
Assing 2009
) and the Nearctic region (Nova Scotia, Canada).
Canadian records.
Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 07-Jun-2013 to 24-Jun-2013 (1 ex, CBG).
Diagnostic information.
Body length: 3.0-3.4 mm. Habitus as in
Fig. 19A
. Male sternite VIII as in
Fig. 19C
. Aedeagus as in
Fig. 19B
.
Bionomic notes.
This species inhabits wetlands and can be collected from rotting organic matter (
Assing 2012
). The Canadian specimen was collected at the same site and in the same Malaise trap as the
M. ripicola
specimen.
Comments.
A single female voucher from Canada was available for study and, while males would normally be necessary to confirm a positive identification in
Pseudomedon
, its barcode sequence is identical to German specimens of
P. obscurellus
. The morphologically similar Palaearctic species
P. obsoletus
forms a separate BIN cluster (BOLD:ABY0636). The female voucher from Canada also was consistent with the typical coloration of
P. obscurellus
given by
Assing (2012)
. As the Nearctic fauna of
Pseudomedon
is unrevised, comparisons with North American species are not yet possible. Recognizing this species in the Nearctic region is reliably accomplished, at present, using dissected males or DNA barcoding.
Due to taxonomic confusion until the 1970s, reports of
Pseudomedon obscurellus
and
P. obsoletus
from regions outside of the Palaearctic need re-confirmation (
Assing 2009
,
Klimaszewski et al. 2013
). The record of
P. obsoletus
from British Columbia from
Hatch (1957)
is doubtful and likely refers to
P. obscurellus
as it was described as being partly dark rufous, a color more typically associated with this species (
Assing 2012
). To our knowledge, this is the first verified record of any Palaearctic
Pseudomedon
species from the Nearctic.