Margarinotus merdarius (Hoffman, 1803)

Webster, Reginald P., Makepeace, Scott, DeMerchant, Ian & Sweeney, Jon D., 2012, New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Histeridae, ZooKeys 179, pp. 11-26 : 19

Margarinotus merdarius (Hoffman, 1803) Map 17

Material examined.

New Brunswick, Kings Co., ca. 2 km WSW of Browns Flat, 45.4667°N, 66.1668°W, 8.VII.2009, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest box, moist organic debris and sawdust with owl pellets, small bones, feathers, with urine smell (1, RWC). Queens Co., Central Hampstead, 45.6575°N, 66.1412°W, 13.VII.2006, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, hardwood ridge, in barred owl nest in tree hole (1, RWC); Elm Hill, 45.7140°N, 66.1315°W, 27.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest in tree hole in red oak, damp (urine smell) organic material with feathers, fur and small bones (1, RWC); Cumberland Bay, 46.0000°N, 65.9333°W, 28.VI.2009, Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest, moist leaves and debris with owl pellets, small bones, with urine smell (1, RWC); ca. 1.5 km NW of McAlpines, 45.7333°N, 66.1333°W, 8.VII.2009, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, in barred owl nest box, moist organic debris and sawdust with owl pellets, small bones, feathers, with urine smell (2, RWC). York Co., Marysville, 45.9750°N, 66.5700°W, 22.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, nest box contents of barred owl, with dry organic material and remains of squirrel, birds, and insect parts (1, NBM).

Collection and habitat data.

In Europe, this species occurs in dung, fungi, compost, and decaying vegetables and in bird nests and henhouses ( Vienna 1980). All specimens of this adventive species from New Brunswick were collected from nest material from barred owl nests (most with chicks) in natural cavities in trees or in artificial nest boxes. Adults were captured during June and July.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

BC, AB, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS ( Bousquet and Laplante 2006).