Table Of ContentPROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
108(1), 2006, pp. 243-247
NOTE
Introduced Leaf Beetles of the Maritime Provinces, |:
Sphaeroderma testaceum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Sphaeroderma testaceum (FE), reported dale (August 22, 2005), and Enfield (Au-
from three localities in Nova Scotia by gust 22, 2005) all in Hants County, and
Hoebeke and Wheeler (2003), is the most from Bedford, Halifax County (August 22,
recent of a long series of Old World beetles 2005) (C. G. Majka Collection, Halifax,
that have been introduced to North America Nova Scotia, Canada). Thistle stands at oth-
through Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada. er sites in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Seaports offer many opportunities for such and Prince Edward Island were also sur-
introductions and this region has a long his- veyed but no specimens of S. testaceum
tory of commercial traffic. Some introduced were found (Fig. 2).
species have spread little, whereas others All the specimens collected have been on
have used their foothold in Atlantic Canada Canada thistle. Stands of Bull thistle (Cir-
as a springboard to spread to other portions sium vulgare (Savi) Tenore) and Swamp
of the continent. In some cases it is clear thistle (C. muticum Michx.) were also
Where and when the introductions were swept but to date S. testaceum has not been
made; in other instances, specific evidence found on either plant. Known host plants of
is lacking or is speculative (Majka and Kli- Sphaeroderma are Carduus, Cirsium, On-
maszewski 2004). opordum, Carlina, Serratula, and Cynara
In 1997 (August 1, August 26, and Sep- (Clark et al. 2004). Of these, Carduus cris-
tember 17) while sweep-netting in an old pus L, Cirsium vulgare, C. muticum, C. pal-
field adjacent to the Nova Scotia Depart- ustre (L.) Scop., and C. arvense occur in
ment of Natural Resources Insectary in Nova Scotia (Roland 1998). Individuals
Shubenacadie, Colchester County, Nova were observed moving on the stalks of Cir-
Scotia, Jeffrey Ogden collected 10 speci- sium. When disturbed, they would spring
mens of what proved on subsequent ex- weakly, retract their legs, and feign death.
amination to be Sphaeroderma testaceum The only other beetle found to be consis-
(Nova Scotia Department of Natural Re- tently associated with S. testaceum on this
sources Insectary, Shubenacadie, Nova host was Cassida rubiginosa Miiller, anoth-
Scotia, Canada) (Fig. 1). Hoebeke and er adventive chrysomelid which also feeds
Wheeler (2003) reported the species on on Cirsium.
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Sco- At two sites (Enfield and Elmsdale)
poli) from collections made in 2001 and quantitative sampling was carried out to es-
2003 at Bible Hill, Antigonish, and New tablish an index of S. testaceum abundance.
Glasgow in Nova Scotia (Cornell Univer- Areas of thistle stands were measured and
sity Insect Collection, Ithaca, New York, carefully swept. While not all specimens
USA). C. G. Majka subsequently collected present would necessarily have been cap-
S. testaceum along Highway 104, 3 km tured, the approach establishes a minimum
southeast of Kemptown, Colchester County level of abundance. At Enfield 0.24 indi-
(August 20, 2002) and near Pratts Lake, viduals/m? were found while at Elmsdale
Colchester County (July 23, 2004). In 2005 abundance was 0.22 individuals/m~?.
more extensive sweep-netting surveys were The question arises as to how this species
undertaken and specimens were collected made its way to Nova Scotia. Cirsium ar-
from Milford Station (July 26, 2005), Elms- vense is Eurasian in origin and has been
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Rion Habitus photograph of Sphaeroderma testaceum.
VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 245
oS 7
(3)
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Kilometres 50 ¢} SIGAIUE 50 100 Kilometres 4
Miles 30 ie) 30 ; 60 Miles j
Fig. 2. Distribution of Sphaeroderma testaceum. Closed circles indicate localities where the species has been
found. Open circles indicate localities were thistle stands were examined for S. testaceum but no specimens
were found.
deliberately or inadvertently introduced to port of Halifax) from Bedford Basin (at the
North America. Sphaeroderma testaceum head of Halifax Harbour) to Truro and
would appear to have been introduced to thence westward along the Highway 104
the province in association with its impor- (the trans-Canada Highway) to Antigonish.
tation. Cirsium arvense is considered one of Every thistle stand examined in this corri-
the world9s worst weeds (Holm et al. 1977, dor yielded specimens of S. festaceum.
McClay et al. 2002) and is a serious pest in Eastward from Truro along Highway 104,
Nova Scotia where it is found throughout and in other parts of Nova Scotia, New
the province (Roland 1998). In this context, Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, no
Hoebeke and Wheeler (2003) raised the specimens have been found. At present S.
possible biocontrol potential of S. testa- testaceum would appear to be confined to
ceum. an area in the north-central mainland of the
To date S. testaceum has only been found province. The pattern of distribution might
along major transportation corridors. The be indicative of an introduction through the
line of points plotted in Fig. 2 follows port of Halifax with a subsequent spread
Highway 102 (the main arterial route lead- along the Highway 102 and 104 transpor-
ing from Halifax as well as the Canadian tation corridors. Majka and Klimaszewski
National Railways line leading from the (2004) discuss eleven species of adventive
246 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
beetles known to have been introduced to have cost millions of dollars, generated tre-
North America through the port of Halifax. mendous public controversy, and signifi-
Species such as Meligethes viridescens (F.) cantly disrupted forestry and horticultural
have subsequently spread from there to a practices (LeBlanc 2002, Majka and Kli-
large number of other localities in Nova maszewski 2004). Continued vigilance 1s
Scotia and Prince Edward Island (Mason et warranted lest other such inadvertent intro-
al. 2003). ductions result in unplanned environmental
This introduction appears to have taken consequences.
place relatively recently. Since 1986 staff of Acknowledgments.4Sincere thanks to
the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Re- Peter Harris (Agriculture and Agri-Food
sources Insectary (based in Shubenacadie, Canada, Lethbridge), Jeffrey Ogden (Nova
NS) have regularly collected and monitored Scotia Department of Natural Resources),
Coleoptera populations in Colchester, An- and M. Glen Sampson (Nova Scotia Agri-
tigonish, Hants, and Pictou counties, in- cultural College) for their assistance. Two
cluding some of the locations where S. tes- anonymous reviewers read an earlier draft
taceum has been found, yet no specimens of paper and made many constructive sug-
of S. testaceum were found prior to 1997. gestions. The first author thanks his col-
Thus, the recent appearance of this species leagues at the Nova Scotia Museum, Calum
and the current extent of its distribution in Ewing and Andrew Hebda, for continuing
the province raise the possibility that it is support and encouragement. This work has
rapidly expanding its range along traffic been assisted by a research grant from the
corridors where Cirsium arvense grows. Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
Spheroderma testaceum is a recent ad-
LITERATURE CITED
dition to the lengthy catalogue of species
introduced to the continent through Atlantic Clark, S: M., DIG, KeDoux, TN: Seeno; E> G2 Riley;
Canada. The beetle fauna of Nova Scotia, A. L. Gilbert, and J. M. Sullivan. 2004. Host
Plants of Leaf Beetle Species Occurring in the
in particular, includes 329 introduced spe-
United States and Canada. Coleopterists Society,
cies, or 14.6% of its total beetle fauna in-
Special Publication No. 2. Athens, Georgia, 476
cluding 23 species of Chrysomelidae (C. PPp-
Majka, unpublished data). While some, Hoebeke, E. R. and A. G. Wheeler Jr. 2003. Sphae-
roderma testaceum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomeli-
such as S. testaceum, Chrysolina hyperici
dae), a Palearctic flea beetle new to North Amer-
(Forster), and Aphthona cyparissiae (Koch)
ica. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of
are considered to be beneficial species, oth-
Washington 105: 9904994.
ers such as Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull), Lil- Holm, L. G., D. L. Plucknett, J. V. Pancho, and J. P.
ioceris lilii (Scopoli), Crioceris duodecim- Herberger. 1977. The World9s Worst Weeds: Dis-
tribution and Biology. University of Hawaii Press,
punctata (L.), C. asparagi (L.), Oulema
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melanopus (L.), and Meligethes viridescens
LeBlanc, N. 2002. CFIA program to eradicate Japa-
(FE) are potentially serious pests. Although
nese beetle in Halifax. Canadian Food Inspection
shipping and inspection practices now are Agency news release, March 25, 2002. Available
more rigorous than they were prior to 1965 from __ http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpattr/
newcom/2002/20020325e.shtml (accessed 19 Au-
when quarantine restrictions on soil and
gust 2005)
plant material were imposed (Spence and
Majka, C. G. and J. Klimaszewski. 2004. Phloeocharis
Spence 1988), such introductions continue subtilissima Mannerheim (Staphylinidae: Phloeo-
because exchanges and importations are charinae) and Cephennium gallicum Ganglbauer
considerably frequent than in the past. (Scydmaenidae) new to North America: a case
study in the introduction of exotic Coleoptera to
In Nova Scotia, recent programs by the
the port of Halifax, with new records of other spe-
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
cies. Zootaxa 781: 1-15.
to exterminate the introduced Tetropium Mason, P. G., O. Olfert, L. Sluchinski, R. M. Weiss,
fuscum (FE) and Popillia japonica Newman C. Boudreault, M. Grossrieder, and U. Kuhlmann.
VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 247
2003. Actual and potential distribution of an in- anthropic fauna of western Canada. Memoirs of
vasive canola pest, \ Meligethes viridescens (Co- the Entomological Society of Canada 144: 1514
leoptera: Nitidulidae), in Canada. Canadian En- 168.
tomologist 135: 405-413.
McClay, A. S., R. S..Bourchier, R. A. Butts, and D. P. Christopher G. Majka and Laurent Le-
Peschken. 2002. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli,
Sage. (CGM) Nova Scotia Museum of Nat-
Canada thistle (Asteraceae), pp. 3184330. Jn Ma-
ural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax,
son, P. G. and J. T. Huber, eds. Biological Control
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Roland, A. E. 1998. Roland9s Flora of Nova Scotia
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