New Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) records for Canada

New records of Curculionoidea from Newfoundland and Labrador, with the first records of Orthochaetessetiger ([Beck]) (Curculionidae, Curculioninae, Styphlini) for North America

Thirty species of Curculionoidea (28 Curculionidae and one each of Brentidae and Nemonychidae) are reported as new records from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, most of them from the island of Newfoundland. As well, 13 species of Curculionidae and one of Brentidae previously recorded from Newfoundland are newly reported from Labrador, and one Curculionidae previously recorded from Labrador is newly reported from Newfoundland. The Palearctic species, Orthochaetessetiger ([Beck]), is herein reported as a new Canadian and North American record, with specimens documented from Newfoundland and British Columbia. Additions to the primary key for North American weevils are provided to help identify this genus among the North American fauna. Of the species of Curculionoidea previously recorded from the province in published literature, there is uncertain evidence for the occurrence of 14 species in the province as a whole or in the Labrador portion. Seven species are hereby removed from the faunal list for the province. One of those, Trachodeshispidus (Linnaeus), is also removed from the Canadian faunal list. The 134 species of Curculionoidea recorded from NL are listed and a brief synopsis of the fauna provided.

New Canadian and Provincial Records of Coleoptera Resulting from Annual Canadian Food Inspection Agency Surveillance for Detection of Non-Native, Potentially Invasive Forest Insects

The arrival and establishment of adventive, invasive forest insects are a threat to the health, diversity, and productivity of forests in Canada and the world at large, and their early detection is essential for successful eradication and management. For that reason, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducts annual surveys at high risk sites such as international ports and freight terminals, industrial zones, and disposal sites for solid wood packaging material using two methods: (1) semiochemical-baited traps deployed in a total of about 63-80 sites per year in British Columbia (BC), Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL); and (2) rearing of insects from bolts collected from stressed trees and incubated in modified shipping containers in four cities (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax). We report 31 new Canadian provincial records of Coleoptera from surveys conducted in 2011-2021, including 13 new records for Canada and 9 species adventive to North America (indicated by †). Nine of the new Canadian records were native North American species previously detected only south of the border. All but three species belong to the Curculionidae family and most of these were in the subfamily Scolytinae. The records include: Xenomelanophila miranda (LeConte) (Canada, BC) (Buprestidae: Buprestinae); Neoclytus mucronatus mucronatus (Fabricius) (BC) (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae); Amphicerus cornutus (Pallas) (Canada, BC) (Bostrichidae: Bostrichinae); Mecinus janthinus (Germar)† (ON) (Curculionidae: Curculioninae); Aulacobaris lepidii (Germar)† (Canada, ON); Buchananius striatus (LeConte) (ON) (Curculionidae: Baridinae); Cylindrocopturus binotatus LeConte (Canada, ON) (Curculionidae: Conoderinae); Himatium errans LeConte (ON); Phloeophagus canadensis Van Dyke (ON); Rhyncolus spretus Casey (Canada, BC); Stenomimus pallidus (Boheman) (Canada, ON); Tomolips quercicola (Boheman) (Canada, ON) (Curculionidae: Cossoninae); Strophosoma melanogrammum (Forster)† (NB) (Curculionidae: Entiminae); Conotrachelus aratus (Germar) (ON) (Curculionidae: Molytinae); Anisandrus maiche Stark† (Canada, ON, QC); Cnesinus strigicollis LeConte (Canada, ON); Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff)† (Canada, ON, QC); Hylesinus fasciatus LeConte (QC); Hylesinus pruinosus Eichhoff (QC); Hypothenemus interstitialis (Hopkins) (Canada, ON); Lymantor alaskanus Wood (BC); Pityogenes bidentatus (Herbst)† (Canada, ON); Scolytus mali (Bechstein)† (BC); Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov† (QC); Trypodendron scabricollis (LeConte) (Canada, ON); Trypophloeus populi Hopkins (QC); Xylechinus americanus Blackman (NFLB); and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky)† (BC, QC) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae). We also provide additional data confirming the presence of the adventive Hylastes opacus Erichson† in NS. Rearing of insects from bolts accounted for two new records (H. pruinosus, R. spretus) and trapping accounted for the remainder. These surveys not only assist our efforts to manage forest insects by documenting new species introductions and apparent range expansions but also increase our knowledge of biodiversity.

Climate change impact on the potential geographical distribution of two invading Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles

Xylosandrus compactus and X. crassiusculus are two polyphagous ambrosia beetles originating from Asia and invasive in circumtropical regions worldwide. Both species were recently reported in Italy and further invaded several other European countries in the following years. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to estimate the suitable areas worldwide for both species under the current climate. We also made future projections for years 2050 and 2070 using 11 different General Circulation Models, for 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5). Our analyses showed that X. compactus has not been reported in all potentially suitable areas yet. Its current distribution in Europe is localised, whereas our results predicted that most of the periphery of the Mediterranean Sea and most of the Atlantic coast of France could be suitable. Outside Europe, our results also predicted Central America, all islands in Southeast Asia and some Oceanian coasts as suitable. Even though our results when modelling its potential distribution under future climates were more variable, the models predicted an increase in suitability poleward and more uncertainty in the circumtropical regions. For X. crassiusculus, the same method only yielded poor results, and the models thus could not be used for predictions. We discuss here these results and propose advice about risk prevention and invasion management of both species.

New Coleoptera records from eastern Canada, with additions to the fauna of Manitoba, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory

One-hundred-eleven new provincial and territorial Coleoptera records are reported from New Brunswick (64), Nova Scotia (20), Prince Edward Island (5), Quebec (14), Manitoba (3), British Columbia (3), and Yukon Territory (2) for the 26 following families: Carabidae, Dytiscidae, Histeridae, Staphylinidae, Scarabaeidae, Buprestidae, Eucnemidae, Elateridae, Cantharidae, Erotylidae, Monotomidae, Cryptophagidae, Passandridae (first record of this family from New Brunswick), Laemophloeidae, Nitidulidae, Anamorphidae, Coccinellidae, Latridiidae, Mordellidae, Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Anthribidae, Brentidae, Dryophthoridae, and Curculionidae. Among these are ten new Canadian records: Heterosternuta oppositus (Say, 1823) (Dytiscidae) (New Brunswick), Gyrophaena blatchleyi Seevers, 1951 (Staphylinidae) (Quebec), Acropteroxys lecontei Crotch, 1873 (Erotylidae) (Manitoba), Placonotus falinorum Thomas, 2011 (Laemophloeidae) (Quebec), Adelina pallida (Say, 1824) (Tenebrionidae) (Quebec), Poecilocera harrisii (J.L. LeConte, 1851) (Chrysomelidae) (New Brunswick), Plesiobaris albilata (LeConte, 1876) (Curculionidae) (Quebec, New Brunswick), Pseudopityophthorus asperulus (LeConte, 1868) (Curculionidae) (Nova Scotia), Hylurgops palliatus (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Curculionidae) (New Brunswick), and Heteroborips seriatus (Blandford, 1894) (Curculionidae) (Nova Scotia). Plesiobaris disjuncta Casey reported as new for Canada in New Brunswick and Quebec by Webster et al. (2012a) is actually P. albilata (LeConte) and thus P. disjuncta is removed from the faunal list of Canada. Eleven species from New Brunswick not previously reported in literature were found on the online platforms BugGuide.Net and iNaturalist and are reported in this publication. This highlights the importance of online platforms dedicated to recording wildlife observations and citizen science in detecting new species records. Data is also presented for seven species from Quebec and two species from New Brunswick reported by Bousquet et al. (2013) without any supporting information for their occurrence in these provinces. Among the species reported here, 32 are adventive.

Behavioral Responses of Scolytus schevyrewi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to Volatiles From Apricot Tree (Rosales: Rosaceae)

Scolytus schevyrewi Semenov (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is native to China and Central Asia. Damage by the adults and larvae weakens local apricot trees (Armeniaca spp.), often causing death to many host trees. In previous studies, freshly cut apricot logs were found to be highly attractive to S. schevyrewi adults. To explore the possibility of trapping and monitoring this bark beetle, we evaluated the effect of the apricot tree volatiles on S. schevyrewi behavior. Volatiles from the apricot logs were collected by headspace sampling and subjected to coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analysis. Behavioral responses to EAD-active compounds were assessed using two-choice Y-tube olfactometers. The results showed that the antennae of females responded to 21 volatile compounds from apricot logs. Seventeen compounds were confirmed with authentic compounds. The Y-olfactometer bioassays showed that at a stimulation dose of 100 µg, four compounds [(1S)-(-)-α-pinene, (±)-limonene, (1S)-(+)-3-carene, and 1-hexanol], and some binary mixtures of the four compounds [(1S)-(-)-α-pinene plus (±)-limonene; (1S)-(-)-α-pinene plus (1S)-(+)-3-carene; (1S)-(-)-α-pinene plus camphene; (1S)-(-)-α-pinene plus (±)-limonene, (1S)-(+)-3-carene, and 1-hexanol] were significantly attractive to both sexes (except (±)-limonene and (1S)-(+)-3-carene for males), suggesting that these compounds may play a role in host tree selection by S. schevyrewi and should be evaluated as lures for population monitoring. In contrast, octanal, nonanal, decanal, linalool and N,N-diethylformamide appeared to repel S. schevyrewi adults in Y-tube at the concentration tested.

High-Throughput Sequencing to Investigate Phytopathogenic Fungal Propagules Caught in Baited Insect Traps

Studying the means of dispersal of plant pathogens is crucial to better understand the dynamic interactions involved in plant infections. On one hand, entomologists rely mostly on both traditional molecular methods and morphological characteristics, to identify pests. On the other hand, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) is becoming the go-to avenue for scientists studying phytopathogens. These organisms sometimes infect plants, together with insects. Considering the growing number of exotic insect introductions in Canada, forest pest-management efforts would benefit from the development of a high-throughput strategy to investigate the phytopathogenic fungal and oomycete species interacting with wood-boring insects. We recycled formerly discarded preservative fluids from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency annual survey using insect traps and analysed more than one hundred samples originating from across Canada. Using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) HTS technology and fusion primers, we performed metabarcoding to screen unwanted fungi and oomycetes species, including Phytophthora spp. Community profiling was conducted on the four different wood-boring, insect-attracting semiochemicals; although the preservative (contained ethanol) also attracted other insects. Phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Leptographium spp. and Meria laricis in the pine sawyer semiochemical) and oomycetes (mainly Peronospora spp. and Pythium aff. hypogynum in the General Longhorn semiochemical), solely associated with one of the four types of semiochemicals, were detected. This project demonstrated that the insect traps' semiochemical microbiome represents a new and powerful matrix for screening phytopathogens. Compared to traditional diagnostic techniques, the fluids allowed for a faster and higher throughput assessment of the biodiversity contained within. Additionally, minimal modifications to this approach would allow it to be used in other phytopathology fields.

Bookkeeping of insect herbivory trends in herbarium specimens of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

The potential use of herbarium specimens to detect herbivory trends is enormous but largely untapped. The objective of this study was to reconstruct the long-term herbivory pressure on the Eurasian invasive plant, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), by evaluating leaf damage over 1323 specimens from southern Québec (Canada). The hypothesis tested is that that the prevalence of herbivory damage on purple loosestrife is low during the invasion phase and increases throughout the saturation phase. Historical trends suggest a gradual increase in hole feeding and margin feeding damage from 1883 to around 1940, followed by a period of relative stability. The percentage of specimens with window feeding damage did not begin to increase until the end of the twentieth century, from 3% (2-6%) in 1990 to 45% (14-81%) in 2015. Temporal changes in the frequency of window feeding damage support the hypothesis of an increasing herbivory pressure by recently introduced insects. This study shows that leaf damage made by insects introduced for the biocontrol of purple loosestrife, such as coleopterans of the Neogalerucella genus, can be assessed from voucher specimens. Herbaria are a rich source in information that can be used to answer questions related to plant-insect interactions in the context of biological invasions and biodiversity changes.This article is part of the theme issue 'Biological collections for understanding biodiversity in the Anthropocene'.

New Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) records for Quebec, Canada

The following species of Curculionoidea are newly recorded from the Canadian province of Quebec: Coelocephalapionemaciipes (Fall, 1898); Ischnopterapionvirens (Herbst, 1797); Omphalapionhookerorum (Kirby, 1808); Perapionpunctinasum (J.B. Smith, 1884) (all Brentidae); Anthonomusrobustulus LeConte, 1876; Pseudanthonomushelvolus (Boheman, 1843); Bagousmagister LeConte, 1876; Bagoustanneri O’Brien, 1979; Buchananiusstriatus (LeConte, 1876); Ceutorhynchusbolteri Dietz, 1896; Ceutorhynchuspallidactylus (Marsham, 1802); Ceutorhynchuspauxillus Dietz, 1896; Conotrachelusbuchanani Schoof, 1942; Conotracheluspusillus LeConte, 1878; Conotrachelusrecessus (Casey, 1910); Curculiorubidus (Gyllenhal, 1835); Cylindrocopturuslongulus (LeConte, 1876); Hadroplontuslitura (Fabricius, 1775); Hyperarumicis (Linnaeus, 1758); Lixusterminalis LeConte, 1876; Myosidesseriehispidus Roelofs, 1873; Phloeotribusdentifrons (Blackman, 1921); Plocamusechidna (LeConte, 1876); Scolytusmuticus Say, 1824; Sirocalodessericans (LeConte, 1876); Smicronyxsculpticollis Casey, 1892 (all Curculionidae). Among these, Buchananiusstriatus, Conotrachelusbuchanani, Conotracheluspusillus, and Curculiorubidus (all Curculionidae) are also recorded from Canada for the first time. The latter is also newly reported from Ontario. Collecting data are provided for Lixuspunctinasus LeConte, 1876, previously reported to occur in Canada without any further information, and for Choragussayi LeConte, 1876 (Anthribidae) and Rhyssomatusaequalis Horn, 1873 (Curculionidae), both previously recorded from Quebec, also without further details.

Can enemy release explain the invasion success of the diploid Leucanthemum vulgare in North America?

Enemy release is a commonly accepted mechanism to explain plant invasions. Both the diploid Leucanthemum vulgare and the morphologically very similar tetraploid Leucanthemum ircutianum have been introduced into North America. To verify which species is more prevalent in North America we sampled 98 Leucanthemum populations and determined their ploidy level. Although polyploidy has repeatedly been proposed to be associated with increased invasiveness in plants, only two of the populations surveyed in North America were the tetraploid L. ircutianum. We tested the enemy release hypothesis by first comparing 20 populations of L. vulgare and 27 populations of L. ircutianum in their native range in Europe, and then comparing the European L. vulgare populations with 31 L. vulgare populations sampled in North America. Characteristics of the site and associated vegetation, plant performance and invertebrate herbivory were recorded. In Europe, plant height and density of the two species were similar but L. vulgare produced more flower heads than L. ircutianum. Leucanthemum vulgare in North America was 17 % taller, produced twice as many flower heads and grew much denser compared to L. vulgare in Europe. Attack rates by root- and leaf-feeding herbivores on L. vulgare in Europe (34 and 75 %) was comparable to that on L. ircutianum (26 and 71 %) but higher than that on L. vulgare in North America (10 and 3 %). However, herbivore load and leaf damage were low in Europe. Cover and height of the co-occurring vegetation was higher in L. vulgare populations in the native than in the introduced range, suggesting that a shift in plant competition may more easily explain the invasion success of L. vulgare than escape from herbivory.

New Curculionoidea records from New Brunswick, Canada with an addition to the fauna of Nova Scotia

This paper presents 27 new records of Curculionoidea for the province of New Brunswick, Canada, including three species new to Canada, and 12 adventive species, as follows: Eusphryruswalshii LeConte, Choragusharrisii LeConte (newly recorded for Canada), Choraguszimmermanni LeConte (newly recorded for Canada) (Anthribidae); Cimberispallipennis (Blatchley) (Nemonychidae); Nanophyesmarmoratusmarmoratus (Goeze) (Brentidae); Procaslecontei Bedel (Brachyceridae); Anthonomuspusillus LeConte (newly recorded for Canada), Anthonomus (Cnemocyllus) pictus Blatchley, Archariussalicivorus (Paykull), Dorytomushirtus LeConte, Ellescusbipunctatus (Linnaeus), Mecinusjanthinus (Germar), Myrmexchevrolatii (Horn), Madarellusundulatus (Say), Microplontuscampestris (Gyllenhal), Pelenomuswaltoni (Boheman), Rhinoncusbruchoides (Herbst), Rhinoncusperpendicularis (Reich), Cossonusimpressifrons Boheman, Cossonuspacificus Van Dyke, Rhyncolusknowltoni (Thatcher), Eubulusbisignatus (Say), Polydrususcervinus (Linnaeus), Magdalispiceae Buchanan, Procryphalusmucronatus (LeConte), Ipsgrandicollis (Eichhoff), and Xyleborinusattenuatus (Blandford). Recent name changes in the genus Rhinoncus are applied to species known from New Brunswick. In addition, Orchestesalni (Linnaeus) is newly recorded from Nova Scotia.

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae)

BACKGROUND

The Ozark Mountains are a region with high endemism and biodiversity, yet few invertebrate inventories have been made and few sites extensively studied. We surveyed a site near Steel Creek Campground, along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, using twelve trap types - Malaise traps, canopy traps (upper and lower collector), Lindgren multifunnel traps (black, green, and purple), pan traps (blue, purple, red, white, and yellow), and pitfall traps - and Berlese-Tullgren extraction for eight and half months.

NEW INFORMATION

We provide collection records of beetle species belonging to eight families collected at the site. Thirty one species represent new state records: (Buprestidae) Actenodes acornis, Agrilus cephalicus, Agrilus ohioensis, Agrilus paracelti, Taphrocerus nicolayi; (Carabidae) Agonum punctiforme, Synuchus impunctatus; (Curculionidae) Acalles clavatus, Acalles minutissimus, Acoptus suturalis, Anthonomus juniperinus, Anametis granulata, Idiostethus subcalvus, Eudociminus mannerheimii, Madarellus undulatus, Magdalis armicollis, Magdalis barbita, Mecinus pascuorum, Myrmex chevrolatii, Myrmex myrmex, Nicentrus lecontei, Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus, Piazorhinus pictus, Phyllotrox ferrugineus, Plocamus hispidulus, Pseudobaris nigrina, Pseudopentarthrum simplex, Rhinoncus pericarpius, Sitona lineatus, Stenoscelis brevis, Tomolips quericola. Additionally, three endemic carabids, two of which are known only from the type series, were collected.