Canadian Forest Service Publications
Review of Canadian species of the genus Dinaraea Thomson, with descriptions of six new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Athetini). 2013. Klimaszewski, J.; Webster, R.P.; Langor, D.W.; Bourdon, C.; Jacobs, J. ZooKeys 327:65-101.
Year: 2013
Issued by: Laurentian Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 35051
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.327.5908
† This site may require a fee
Abstract
Twelve species of the genus Dinaraea Thomson are recognized in the Nearctic region, ten of which occur in Canada, all east of the Rocky Mountains. Six species are herein described as new to science: D. bicornis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; D. curtipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; D. longipenis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; D. quadricornis Klimaszewski & Webster, sp. n.; D. worki Klimaszewski & Jacobs, sp. n.; and D. piceana Klimaszewski & Jacobs, sp. n. Four formerly described species are confirmed in Canada: D. angustula (Thomson), D. backusensis Klimaszewski & Brunke, D. borealis Lohse, and D. pacei Klimaszewki & Langor. The previously unknown male of D. borealis Lohse and female of D. backusensis are described. All species are illustrated with colour habitus images and black and white images of the median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca, and tergite VIII and sternite VIII of both sexes. New habitat and distribution data are presented and a key to all Nearctic species of the genus is provided.
Plain Language Summary
Many bark-inhabiting insects feed on the phloem (the part of the tree that transports nutrients from the leaves to other parts of the tree), fungi or other insects and their larvae. These insects are not usually harmful to trees. However, when their populations are elevated, they can severely damage or even kill a great number of trees. This is the case with the mountain pine beetle in the western part of the country.
Controlling these insect pests is difficult because they live under the bark, making them invisible. Biological control using predatory insects is one solution. To this end, researchers looked at Canadian species of the rove beetle of the genus Dinaraea that are likely to attack bark-inhabiting pests. The rove beetle is a species similar to the ladybug.
Researchers have developed tools to identify Dinaraea species and mapped their distribution pattern in Canada's boreal forest. In addition, six new species were identified as a result of this work. More work is underway to determine the impact of Dinaraea on other bark-inhabiting insects.