Bisnius palmi Smetana, 1955

Webster, Reginald P., Smetana, Ales, Sweeney, Jon D. & DeMerchant, Ian, 2012, New Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) records with new collection data from New Brunswick and an addition to the fauna of Quebec: Staphylininae, ZooKeys 186, pp. 293-348 : 313-314

Bisnius palmi Smetana, 1955 Map 29

Material examined.

New Brunswick, Queens Co., near Quarries, 45.6005°N, 66.0500°W, 25.IX.2006, S. Makepeace, contents from barred owl nest box, 8 m high on red maple (1, ♀, RWC); 4 km W of Lower Gagetown, 45.7466°N, 66.1862°W, 30.VII.2006, S. Makepeace, mixed red oak and pine forest, contents of red shouldered hawk nest 12 m high in red oak (3 ♂, 2 ♀, RWC); Pleasant Villa, 45.7023°N, 66.1732°W, 15.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster (1, ♀, NBM); Rees, near Grand Lake, 46.0016°N, 65.9466°W, 29.V.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, nest box contents of barred owl (4 ♂, 6 ♀ NBM, RWC); McAlpines near Upper Hampstead Rd., 45.7250°N, 66.1200°W, 3.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, nest contents of barred owl (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NBM); Cranberry Lake P.N.A., 46.1125°N, 65.6075°W, 7-22.VI.2011, 13-20.VII.2011, M. Roy & V. Webster, old red oak forest, Lindgren funnel traps in forest canopy (2 ♂, NBM). Sunbury Co., Noonan, 45.9923°N, 66.4099°W, 2.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. P. Webster, nest contents of barred owl from tree hole 7 m high in red maple (1 ♀, NBM). Westmorland Co., Sackville, near Ogden Mill, 45.9216°N, 64.3893°W, 12.V.2006, S. Makepeace, black spruce forest, in nest contents of great horned owl, Bubo virginianus (2 ♀, NBM, RWC). York Co., Graham Corner, 45.8565°N, 67.7083°W, 26.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, nest contents of barred owl from tree hole in sugar maple (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NBM); Marysville, 45.9750°N, 66.5700°W, 22.VI.2007, S. Makepeace & R. Webster, nest box contents of barred owl (1 ♀, NBM).

Collection and habitat data.

This species was reported by Smetana (1995) from various habitats associated with trees, such as swallow nests, old squirrel nests, and a red oak tree fork hole. In New Brunswick, all but one of the Bisnius palmi specimens were found in the nest contents of a great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus Gmelin) and barred owls, which normally nest in tree holes or in artificial nest boxes on trees. This species was also found in the nest contents of a red shouldered hawk ( Buteo lineatus Gmelin), which makes large nests within forks of large trees. One adult was captured in a Lindgren funnel trap deployed in the canopy of a red oak in an old red oak forest. Adults were collected in May, June, July, and September.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

ON, NB, NS ( Smetana 1995). Bisnius palmi is transcontinental in North America, with most records from eastern North America. There is one record from Nova Scotia (Caribou Island). Bisnius palmi was originally described from Sicily, Italy, but was apparently an accidental, introduced specimen ( Smetana 1995).

Figures

Map 29. Collection localities in New Brunswick, Canada of Bisnius palmi.