Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Oligota pusillima Gravenhorst, 1806† Figs 394-400

Material examined.

Canada, New Brunswick, York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 30.IX.2007, 5.X.2007, 27.IV.2008, 8.VIII.2010, 7.IX.2010, R.P. Webster, coll. // Mixed forest, in decaying (moldy) corncobs & cornhusks (2 ♂, 4 ♀, RWC); same data but 5.X.2007, 3.IX.2010 (1 ♂, 1 ♀, LFC).

Natural history.

Oligota pusillima was found in a pile of decaying and moldy corncobs and cornhusks near a composter in a residential area adjacent to a mixed forest. Mites were abundant in the moldy corncobs and cornhusks where the specimens were collected. Adults were collected during April, August, September, and October.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

NB (New Canadian record).

Comments.

Oligota pusillima is considered a cosmopolitan species (Smetana 2004). It was known in the USA from MA (Fauvel 1889) and NY (synonyms Oligota linearis Casey and Oligota parallela Casey), but it was never before recorded from Canada.