Tachyporus browni Campbell, 1979

Brunke, Adam J. & Marshall, Stephen A., 2011, Contributions to the faunistics and bionomics of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in northeastern North America: discoveries made through study of the University of Guelph Insect Collection, Ontario, Canada, ZooKeys 75, pp. 29-68 : 37

Tachyporus browni Campbell, 1979

Materials.

CANADA: ON:Huron Co., Benmiller, Sharpes Creek Line, 43.691, -81.608, soybean field, pitfall, 18-IX-2009, A. Brunke (1).

UNITED STATES: NH: Coos Co., Dixville, leaf litter, 6-IV-2010, T. Murray (1); Jefferson, leaf litter, grassy area near stream, 20-IV-2010, T. Murray (1); Dixville, 4-V-2010, T. Murray (4). MA: Middlesex Co., Groton, sifting hay, flood debris in farm field nr. drainage ditch, 30-IV-2010, T. Murray (1). VT: Orange Co., Topsham, sweeping low vegetation, 22-VI-2010, T. Murray (1).

Diagnosis.

Tachyporus browni can be easily recognized amongst other northeastern Tachyporus by the combination of a bicolored abdomen and elytra without black discal markings (Fig. 4). Rarely, specimens occur with a small black marking on the scutellum but it does not extend half the length of the elytra as in Tachinus elegans Horn. Additionally, Tachinus elegans lacks dark markings on the pronotum.

This distinctive species was known from 12 specimens at the time of its description, all collected from September to November in southern Québec and Connecticut ( Campbell 1979). Klimaszewski et al. (2005) newly recorded it from red spruce-dominated forest in New Brunswick. Herein we newly report Tachyporus browni from Ontario, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont (Map 10). Habitat data suggests that Tachyporus browni inhabits moist or wet litter/debris near water. Most of the specimens known are from the cooler months of the year and this seasonality is probably responsible for its rarity in collections. This phenomenon is common for many staphylinid groups (e.g., winter-active Omaliinae in Campbell 1978) and suggests that increased sampling during September to April will yield further discoveries.