Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Stethusa spuriella (Casey) Figs 101-108

Atheta (Stethusa) spuriella Casey, 1910: 8. As Stethusa: Gusarov 2003b: 239; Brunke et al. 2012: 181.

Diagnosis.

This species may be distinguishable from two other Nearctic Stethusa species by the following combination of characters (Gusarov 2003b): Stethusa spuriella differs from Stethusa dichroa (Gravenhorst) in a smaller body size (length 2.1-2.5 mm), the lack of sub-basal impressions of the terminal antennal article (Fig. 101), the lack of the distal spines of the internal sac (Figs 102, 103); the shape of the spermatheca (Fig. 108); and the lack of a female accessory sclerite. Stethusa spuriella differs from Stethusa klimschi (Bernhauer) in having a smaller body size, the bent apex of the median lobe in lateral view (Fig. 102), and a shorter spermatheca (Fig. 108).

Distribution.

Bionomics.

In Newfoundland, one female was captured in a pitfall trap in mixed forest. In Ontario, Stethusa spuriella appears to be a common species in both forested and open habitats, some specimens were captured on fungi (Brunke et al. 2012). Adults were collected from May to August.

Comments.

This species probably reaches its northernmost distribution limit in Newfoundland.