Philonthus hepaticus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in eastern Canada: are distribution gaps distinctive features or collecting artifacts?

Abstract

Philonthus hepaticus Erichson is reported for the first time in eastern Canada, and for only the second time in Canada, from a specimen collected in New Brunswick. This discovery provides an opportunity to examine apparent distribution gaps in the range of some rove beetles found in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Some of these gaps may be due to deficiencies in collecting effort, while others may result from historic and prehistoric dispersal pathways, habitat fragmentation, or physiographic or climatic factors that allow species to exist in areas beyond their primary geographic range.