Litargus connexus (Geoffroy, 1785)

Pentinsaari, Mikko, Anderson, Robert, Borowiec, Lech, Bouchard, Patrice, Brunke, Adam, Douglas, Hume, Smith, Andrew B. T. & Hebert, Paul D. N., 2019, DNA barcodes reveal 63 overlooked species of Canadian beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera), ZooKeys 894, pp. 53-150 : 53

Litargus connexus (Geoffroy, 1785) Figure 37

Distribution.

Native to the Palaearctic region. Widespread in Europe, also recorded from North Africa, and across the region to the Russian Far East and Japan ( Nikitsky 2008). Adventive in the Nearctic region (British Columbia, Canada).

Canadian records.

British Columbia: Burnaby, 20-Apr-2015 to 08-May-2015 (1 ex, CBG).

Diagnostic information

(based on Vogt 1967a). Body length 2.4-2.8 mm. Dorsal habitus elongate, sides of elytra almost parallel ( Fig. 37A ). Black, elytra with transverse, undulating yellow bands at the base and just beyond midlength, and a yellow sutural spot close to the elytral apex. Yellow markings variable, basal band frequently broken into separate spots. Antennomere 8 somewhat wider than long, terminal antennomere approximately as long as wide, structure of the antennal club as in Fig. 37B . Elytra with epipleura concave, descending towards the lateral edge.

Bionomic notes.

This species is found in deciduous and mixed forests in fungus-infested dead wood ( Koch 1989b). The Canadian specimen was collected with a Malaise trap in a suburban residential area.

Comments.

The combination of the elongate and nearly parallel-sided body, color pattern of the elytra and structure of the antennae will distinguish L. connexus from all other Litargus species known from Canada. Parsons (1975) provides diagnoses and illustrations of the native North American species.

Figures

Figures 36, 37. 36 Orthoperus corticalis (Redtenbacher) 36 A habitus, L. Borowiec 36 B male metaventrite 36 C aedeagus, ventral view 36 D aedeagus, lateral view 37 Litargus connexus (Geoffroy) 37 A habitus, L. Borowiec 37 B antenna. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (36 A), 0.2 mm (36 B-D), 0.5 mm (37 A), 0.2 mm (37 B).