Carpelimus difficilis (Casey, 1889)

Webster, Reginald P., Davies, Anthony E., Klimaszewski, Jan & Bourdon, Caroline, 2016, Further contributions to the staphylinid fauna of New Brunswick, Canada, and the USA, with descriptions of two new Proteinus species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 573, pp. 31-83 : 48

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Carpelimus difficilis (Casey, 1889) Figs 16-17

Material examined.

Canada, New Brunswick, Albert Co., Caledonia Gorge P.N.A., 45.8380°N, 64.8484°W, 3.VII.2011, R.P. Webster // near Turtle Creek, old-growth hardwood forest, mossy seepage with some Carex , sifting saturated moss (1 ♂, RWC). Carleton Co., Wakefield [Belleville], Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve, 46.1931°N, 67.6825°W, 14.IX.2005, R.P. Webster // River margin, in flood debris (1 ♀, RWC); Richmond, Hovey Hill Protected [Natural] Area, 46.1157°N, 67.7624°W, 14.V.2006, R.P. Webster // Mixed forest, margin of vernal pond in moist leaves (1 ♀, RWC). Queens Co., near Queenstown, 45.6904°N, 66.1455°W, 13.V.2008, R.P. Webster, coll. // Old-growth hardwood forest, in leaf litter near seepage & brook (1 ♂, HNHM). Sunbury Co., Maugerville, Portobello Creek N.W.A., 45.8882°N, 66.4248°W, 5.VII.2005, R.P. Webster // Silver maple swamp, muddy river bank (1 ♂, RWC). York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8331°N, 66.7410°W, 16.IV.2004, R.P. Webster // Mature red spruce & cedar forest, in moss & litter near brook (1 sex undetermined, RWC); Kingsclear, Mazerolle Settlement, 45.8717°N, 66.8273°W, 28.IV.2006, R.P. Webster // Cedar forest, in leaves on muddy soil near brook (1 ♂, HNHM; 1 ♂, RWC); Rt. 645 at Beaver Brook, 45.6840°N, 66.8679°W, 3.V.2008, R.P. Webster // Red maple/alder swamp, in moist leaves near small vernal pools near small stream (1 ♀, HNHM; 1 ♂, RWC).

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

NB (New Canadian record). The type series was collected in NC and MD in the USA. Carpelimus difficilis was later reported by Ulke (1902) from the District of Columbia (DC) and by Notman (1920) from NY State, but these records need to be confirmed.

Natural history.

In NB, adults of Carpelimus difficilis were usually associated with the margins of streams and vernal ponds in various forest types. Specimens were found in saturated moss in a seepage near a creek in an old-growth hardwood forest, in leaf litter near a seepage and brook in an old-growth hardwood forest, in moss and litter near a brook in a mature red spruce and eastern white cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) forest, among leaves on muddy soil near a brook in a cedar forest, in flood debris on a river margin, in moist leaves on a vernal pond margin in a mixed forest, and a red maple ( Acer rubrum L.)/alder swamp, and on a muddy river bank. Adults were collected during April, May, July, and September.