Ditylus caeruleus (Randall, 1838)

Webster, Reginald P., Sweeney, Jon D. & DeMerchant, Ian, 2012, New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Stenotrachelidae, Oedemeridae, Meloidae, Myceteridae, Boridae, Pythidae, Pyrochroidae, Anthicidae, and Aderidae, ZooKeys 179, pp. 279-307 : 286

Ditylus caeruleus (Randall, 1838) Map 7

Material examined.

Additional New Brunswick records, Carleton Co., 8 km SE of Benton, 14.VI.1990, R. P. Webster (1, NBM). Restigouche Co., 12.1 km NNE of Kedgwick at Bologna Gulch, 47.77°N, 67.31°W, 13.VI.2000, R. P. Webster, sedge marsh (1, NBM); Stillwater Rd. at Stillwater Brook, 47.7320°N, 67.3376°W, 12.VI.2006, R. P. Webster, black spruce forest, in litter and moss near brook (1, RWC); NE jct. Little Tobique River and Red Brook, 47.4458°N, 67.0617°W, 13.VI.2006, R. P. Webster, alder swamp with eastern white cedar, in moss and grass litter near brook (1, RWC); 7.5 km S of Saint Arthur, 47.8283°N, 66.7654°W, 14.VI.2006, R. P. Webster (1, NBM); Jacquet River Gorge P.N.A., 47.7749°N, 66.1262°W, 23.VI.2008, R. P. Webster, mixed forest, adult in flight when collected (1, RWC); same locality but 47.8221°N, 66.0082°W, 13.V.2010, R. P. Webster, margin of Carex marsh, in leaf and grass litter under shrubs (1, NBM). York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 13.VI.1993, R. P. Webster, mixed forest (1, RWC); Charters Settlement, 45.8331°N, 66.7279°W, 10.V.2010, R. P. Webster, beaver dam, among sticks, debris, and mud on dam (over 10 individuals observed) (2, RWC); Canterbury, near Browns Mountain Fen, 45.8951°N, 67.6333°W, 10.VI.2005, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère, mixed forest, sweeping foliage on forest trail (1, RWC); 15 km W of Tracy off Rt. 645, 45.6837°N, 66.8809°W, 10.VI.2009, R. P. Webster, clear-cut (red pine), on red pine stump (1, RWC).

Collection and habitat data.

The larvae of Ditylus have been found in old wet cedar logs and the larval stage may last 3 years ( Arnett 1951; Kriska 2002). In New Brunswick, this species was collected in a black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) forest, a red pine forest, an alder ( Alnus sp.) swamp, mixed forests, Carex marshes, and a beaver ( Castor canadensis Kuhl.) dam. Adults were collected from leaf and grass litter and moss, by sweeping foliage, in flight, and on a red pine stump. Adults were common among sticks, debris, and mud within a beaver dam. Adults were collected during May and mid June.

Distribution in Canada and Alaska.

MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NF ( Campbell 1991e; Majka and Langor 2011). Majka and Langor (2011) first reported this species from New Brunswick based on specimens (in NBM) collected by W. McIntosh in Saint John during 1901. The above records are the first recent records of this species from the province. This species appears to be relatively common and widespread in New Brunswick.