5 January 2006 PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 108(1), 2006, pp 243–247 NOTE Introduced leaf beetles of the Maritime Provinces, 1: Sphaeroderma testaceum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Sphaeroderma testaceum (F.), reported Bedford, Halifax County (August 22, 2005) (C. from three localities in Nova Scotia by Hoebeke G. Majka Collection, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Wheeler (2003), is the most recent of a long Canada). Thistle stands at other sites in Nova series of Old World beetles that have been in- Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Is- troduced to North America through Nova Scotia land were also surveyed but no specimens of S. and Atlantic Canada. Seaports offer many op- testaceum were found (Fig. 2). portunities for such introductions and this region All the specimens collected have been on has a long history of commercial traffic. Some Canada thistle. Stands of Bull thistle (Cirsium introduced species have spread little whereas vulgare (Savi) Tenore) and Swamp Thistle (C. others have used their foothold in Atlantic muticum Michx.) were also swept but to date Canada as a springboard to spread to other por- S. testaceum has not been found on either tions of the continent. In some cases it is clear plant. Known host plants of Sphaeroderma where and when the introductions were made; in are Carduus, Cirsium, Onopordum, Carlina, other instances, specific evidence is lacking or is Serratula, and Cynara (Clark et al. 2004). Of speculative (Majka and Klimaszewski 2004). these, Carduus crispus L, Cirsium vulgare, C. In 1997 (August 1, August 26, and Sep- muticum, C. palustre (L.) Scop., and C. arvense tember 17) while sweep-netting in an old field occur in Nova Scotia (Roland 1998). Individuals adjacent to the Nova Scotia Department of were observed moving on the stalks of Cirsium. Natural Resources Insectary in Shubenacadie, When disturbed, they would spring weakly, re- Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Jeffrey Og- tract their legs, and feign death. The only other den collected 10 specimens of what proved on beetle found to be consistently associated with subsequent examination to be Sphaeroderma S. testaceum on this host was Cassida rubigino- testaceum (Nova Scotia Department of Natu- sa Müller, another adventive chrysomelid which ral Resources Insectary, Shubenacadie, Nova also feeds on Cirsium. Scotia, Canada) (Fig. 1). Hoebeke and Wheeler At two sites (Enfield and Elmsdale) quan- (2003) reported the species on Canada thistle titative sampling was carried out to establish an (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli) from collections index of S. testaceum abundance. Areas of this- made in 2001 and 2003 at Bible Hill, Antigon- tle stands were measured and carefully swept. ish, and New Glasgow in Nova Scotia (Cornell While not all specimens present would necessar- University Insect Collection, Ithaca, New York, ily have been captured, the approach establishes USA). C. G. Majka subsequently collected S. a minimum level of abundance. At Enfield 0.24 testaceum along Highway 104, 3 km southeast individuals/m2 were found while at Elmsdale of Kemptown, Colchester County (August 20, abundance was 0.22 individuals/m2. 2002) and near Pratts Lake, Colchester County The question arises as to how this species (July 23, 2004). In 2005 more extensive sweep- made its way to Nova Scotia. Cirsium arvense netting surveys were undertaken and specimens is Eurasian in origin and has been deliberately were collected from Milford Station (July 26, or inadvertently introduced to North America. 2005), Elmsdale (August 22, 2005), and Enfield Sphaeroderma testaceum would appear to have (August 22, 2005) all in Hants County, and from been introduced to the province in association 244 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SPCIETY OF WASHINGTON Fig1. Habitus photograph of Sphaeroderma testaceum (F.). VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 245 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. with its importation. Cirsium arvense is consid- thistle stand examined in this corridor yielded ered one of the world’s worst weeds (Holm et specimens of S. testaceum. Westward from al. 1977, McClay et al. 2002) and is a serious Truro along Highway 104, and in other parts pest in Nova Scotia where it is found through- of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince out the province (Roland 1998). In this context, Edward Island, no specimens have been found. Hoebeke and Wheeler (2003) raised the possible At present S. testaceum would appear to be con- biocontrol potential of S. testaceum. fined to an area in the north-central mainland of To date S. testaceum has only been found the province. The pattern of distribution might along major transportation corridors. The line be indicative of an introduction through the port of points plotted in Fig. 2 follows Highway 102 of Halifax with a subsequent spread along the (the main arterial route leading from Halifax as Highway 102 and 104 transportation corridors. well as the Canadian National Railways line Majka and Klimaszewski (2004) discuss eleven leading from the port of Halifax) from Bedford species of adventive beetles known to have been Basin (at the head of Halifax Harbour) to Truro introduced to North America through the port of and thence eastward along the Highway 104 (the Halifax. Species such as Meligethes viridescens trans-Canada Highway) to Antigonish. Every (F.) have subsequently spread from there to a 246 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SPCIETY OF WASHINGTON large number of other localities in Nova Scotia jka and Klimaszewski 2004). Continued vigi- and Prince Edward Island (Mason et al. 2003). lance is warranted lest other such inadvertent This introduction appears to have taken introductions result in unplanned environmental place relatively recently. Since 1986 staff of the consequences. Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources Acknowledgments – Sincere thanks to Pe- Insectary (based in Shubenacadie, NS) have ter Harris (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, regularly collected and monitored Coleoptera Lethbridge), Jeffrey Ogden (Nova Scotia De- populations in Colchester, Antigonish, Hants, partment of Natural Resources), and M. Glen and Pictou Counties, including some of the lo- Sampson (Nova Scotia Agricultural College) for cations where S. testaceum has been found, yet their assistance. Two anonymous reviewers read no specimens of S. testaceum were found prior an earlier draft of paper and made many con- to 1997. Thus, the recent appearance of this spe- structive suggestions. The first author thanks his cies and the current extent of its distribution in colleagues at the Nova Scotia Museum, Calum the province raise the possibility that it is rapidly Ewing and Andrew Hebda, for continuing sup- expanding its range along traffic corridors where port and encouragement. This work has been as- Cirsium arvense grows. sisted by a research grant from the Nova Scotia Spheroderma testaceum is a recent addition Museum of Natural History. to the lengthy catalogue of species introduced to the continent through Atlantic Canada. The LITERATURE CITED beetle fauna of Nova Scotia, in particular, in- cludes 329 introduced species, or 14.6% of its Clark, S.M., D.G. LeDoux, T.N. Seeno, E.G. Riley, A.L. Gilbert. and J.M. Sullivan. 2004. Host Plants of Leaf total beetle fauna including 23 species of Chrys- Beetle Species Occurring in the United States and omelidae (C. Majka, unpublished data). While Canada. Coleopterists Society, Special Publication No. 2. Athens, GA. 476 pp. some, such as S. testaceum, Chrysolina hyperici Hoebeke, E.R. and A.G. Wheeler Jr. 2003. Sphaeroderma (Förster), and Aphthona cyparissiae (Koch) are testaceum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Pale- arctic flea beetle new to North America. Proceedings considered to be beneficial species, others such of the Entomological Society of Washington 105: as Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull), Lilioceris lilii 990–994. Holm, L.G., D.L. Plucknett, J.V. Pancho, and J.P. Herberger. (Scopoli), Crioceris duodecimpunctata (L.), 1977. The World’s Worst Weeds: Distribution and Bi- C. asparagi (L.), Oulema melanopus (L.), ology. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 609 pp. LeBlanc, N. 2002. CFIA program to eradicate Japanese and Meligethes viridescens (F.) are potentially beetle in Halifax. Canadian Food Inspection Agency serious pests. Although shipping and inspection news release, March 25, 2002. Available from http:// practices now are more rigorous than they were www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2002/ 20020325e.shtml (accessed 19 August 2005) prior to 1965 when quarantine restrictions on Majka, C.G. and J. Klimaszewski. 2004. Phloeocharis sub- soil and plant material were imposed (Spence tilissima Mannerheim (Staphylinidae: Phloeocharinae) and Cephennium gallicum Ganglbauer (Scydmaeni- and Spence 1988), such introductions continue dae) new to North America: a case study in the in- because exchanges and importations are consid- troduction of exotic Coleoptera to the port of Halifax, with new records of other species. Zootaxa 781: 1–15. erably more frequent than in the past. Mason, P.G., O. Olfert, L. Sluchinski, R.M. Weiss, C. In Nova Scotia, recent programs by the Boudreault, M. Grossrieder, and U. Kuhlmann. 2003. Actual and potential distribution of an invasive canola Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to pest, Meligethes viridescens (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), exterminate the introduced Tetropium fuscum in Canada. Canadian Entomologist 135: 405–413. McClay, A.S., R.S. Bourchier, R.A. Butts, and D.P. Pe- (F.) and Popillia japonica Newman have cost schken. 2002. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli, Canada millions of dollars, generated tremendous public thistle (Asteraceae), pp 318–330. In Mason, P.G. and J.T. Huber (eds.), Biological Control Programmes in controversy, and significantly disrupted forestry Canada, 1981-2000. CABI Publications, Wallingford, and horticultural practices (LeBlanc 2002, Ma- U.K. VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 247 Roland, A.E. 1998. Roland’s Flora of Nova Scotia (revised Christopher G. Majka and Laurent LeSage. by M. Zinck). Nimbus Press and Nova Scotia Mu- seum, Halifax, Nova Scotia.