Species review of the genus Boreophilia Benick from North America (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Athetini): Systematics, habitat, and distribution

Abstract

Fourteen species of the genus Boreophilia Benick are now recognized in North America. Boreophilia insecuta (Eppelsheim), reported by Lohse (1990) from North America, is a misidentification of a new species, which is described here as B. neoinsecuta Klimaszewski, sp. n., and the true B. insecuta (Epp.) does not occur in North America. An additional new species is found in Alaska, and described as B. beringi Klimaszewski & Brunke, sp. n. The following three species are synonymized (second name being valid): Boreophilia herschelensis Klimaszewski & Godin, 2012, with Boreophilia vega (Fenyes, 1920); Boreophilia manitobensis Lohse, 1990, with B. caseyi Lohse, 1990; and B. angusticornis (Bernahuer, 1907) with B. subplana (J Sahlberg, 1880), based on study of genital structures and external morphology. Atheta gelida J Sahlberg, 1887, and Atheta munsteri Bernhauer, 1902, considered as Boreophilia in recent publications, are transferred to the genus Atheta Thomson, subgenus Dimetrota. Boreostiba piligera (J Sahlberg) is transferred to Boreophilia based on morphology and the results of our phylogenetic analysis. Boreophilia nearctica is recorded from Alberta and B. nomensis is recorded from British Columbia for the first time. Each valid species is illustrated by color image of habitus, and black and white images of genitalia and tergite and sternite VIII. A new key to all Nearctic species of the genus is provided. DNA barcode data were available for nine of the 14 species, which we downloaded, analyzed, and used as additional evidence for the taxonomic conclusions reached herein.