Chris Carlton

Louisiana State University | LSU · Department of Entomology

A new genus of the braconid subfamily Cardiochilinae, Ophiclypeus gen. nov., is described and illustrated based on three new species: O. chiangmaiensis Kang, sp. nov. type species (type locality: Chiang Mai, Thailand), O. dvaravati Ghafouri Moghaddam, Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. (type locality: Saraburi, Thailand), and O. junyani Kang, sp. nov. (typ...

This study is the first attempt to assess the diversity of beetles (Coleoptera) in terrestrial moss cushions on three West Indian islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico) based on 10 years of moss sampling in 18 localities. In total 1711 adult beetles were collected. They belong to 234 species from 30 families. The most species and specimen r...

In New Zealand, the genus Pselaphaulax Reitter is represented by thirteen species. Six new species are described: Pselaphaulax hornabrooki Owens and Carlton, sp. nov.; Pselaphaulax intermedius Owens and Carlton, sp. nov., Pselaphaulax nunni Owens and Carlton, sp. nov.; Pselaphaulax pelorus Owens and Carlton, sp. nov.; Pselaphaulax ramsayi Owens and...

Species within the genus Pselaphogenius Reitter occurring in New Zealand are revised. Twenty-three species are known from the region and can be divided into two distinct species groups. Fifteen new species are described: Pselaphogenius calantica Owens and Carlton, sp. nov.; Pselaphogenius chandleri Owens and Carlton, sp. nov.; Pselaphogenius cornus...

Pselaphotumulus Owens and Carlton, gen. nov., is described as the sixth genus in the tribe Pselaphini known from New Zealand. Three new species are described: Pselaphotumulus aorerei, sp. nov., Pselaphotumulus dubius, sp. nov. and Pselaphotumulus unus, sp. nov.. Three species, Pselaphus cavelli (Broun 1893), Pselaphus oviceps (Broun 1917) and Psela...

The staphylinid subfamily Pselaphinae is generally depauperate at high latitudes. We examine one exception, the tribe Pselaphini, at the southern extreme of its global distribution, the New Zealand subantarctic islands and the Chatham Islands, an archipelago farther north. Currently, only two species are known from remote Campbell Island (Pselaphot...

We report 110 species of Buprestidae from the state of Louisiana, 103 species based on 5,047 specimens examined and seven from previous literature records. Fifteen new state records are reported, including the first published records of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 (emerald ash borer), which is now established in the northern parishes of the...

Two new species of Bibloplectus Reitter, 1881 are described from the Orlando Park Collection of Pselaphinae at the FMNH (Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA): Bibloplectus silvestris Owens and Carlton, new species (type locality, Urbana, IL, USA) and Bibloplectus wingi Owens and Carlton, new species (type locality, Shades State Park,...

Pseudactium credoi Owens and Carlton, new species, is described from three male specimens collected at a blacklight in Wilson County, Tennessee. Pseudactium credoi is similar to Pseudactium parabolicum (Brendel) and Pseudactium ursum Carlton in the form of the ventral projections of ventrite III, but secondary sexual modifications on the legs and t...

Anillinus alleni Sokolov and Carlton, new species, is described from the Ozark Mountain Interior Highlands (type locality: Blanchard Springs Recreation Area, Stone County, Arkansas, USA) based on four specimens collected using soil washing followed by Berlese extraction. The species is unique among anilline carabids in possessing extremely large, s...

Seven new species in the genus Bibloplectus Reitter, 1881 are described: Bibloplectus ellisi Owens and Carlton, new species; Bibloplectus levis Owens and Carlton, new species; Bibloplectus parki Owens and Carlton, new species; Bibloplectus quadratum Owens and Carlton, new species; Bibloplectus suteri Owens and Carlton, new species; Bibloplectus ste...

Cyclocaccus Sharp is a Neotropical genus comprising three previously described species from Central America. We recognize three species-groups within the genus, redescribe previously described species, and describe 12 new species, bringing the total to 15 species as follow: the Cyclocaccus laeticulus species-group includes C. clinei Hisamatsu, new...

Nine new species of pselaphine rove beetles from the southeastern USA are described within four euplectite genera: Rhexius amyae Owens and Carlton, new species; Rhexius jaceus Owens and Carlton, new species; Pseudactium jaitlynum Owens and Carlton, new species; Actium riobuffaloensis Owens and Carlton, new species; Bibloplectus baylessae Owens and...

Five previously described species of the North American genus Eutyphlus LeConte, 1880 are redescribed. Eutyphlus spiralis Owens and Carlton, new species (type locality: Macon County, North Carolina), is described based on characters of the male genitalia. A key to species, drawings and photographs of diagnostic characters, and distribution maps are...

We present results of a comparison between the Winkler (Moczarski) eclector and the Berlese-Tullgren funnel methods for extracting forest litter-dwelling Coleoptera from sifted substrates, with a focus on relevance for taxonomic studies. A review of the history and methodologies of leaf litter arthropod extraction is provided. Repeated, timed trial...

Three new species of pselaphine rove beetle are described from Washington— Lucifotychus lisowskii Owens and Carlton and Pselaptrichus rainierensis Owens and Carlton from Yakima County, and Tychus douglasi Owens and Carlton from Mt. Rainier National Park. These bring the total number of species in each genus to 21, 38, and 37, respectively. A checkl...

A new genus and nine new species of New Zealand endemic pselaphine staphylinid beetles belonging to the supertribe Faronitae are described: Brounea Park & Carlton, gen. nov. (type species: Sagola setiventris Broun, 1915); B. yoonhoi Park & Carlton, sp. nov., B. chorui Park & Carlton, sp. nov., B. sungryongi Park & Carlton, sp. nov., B. mijeongae Pa...

Ahnea keejeongi Park and Carlton (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), a new genus and new species of New Zealand endemic beetle belonging to the supertribe Faronitae is described. Six previously described species are included to this genus and four species are synonymised as follow: Sagola dissonans Broun, 1921 and S. planicula Broun, 1921 und...

Two new genera and two new species of New Zealand endemic pselaphine staphylinid beetles are described as follows: Aucklandea Park and Carlton, gen. nov., based on Aucklandea fusca Park and Carlton, sp. nov.; and Leschenea Park and Carlton, gen. nov., based on Leschenea richardi Park and Carlton, sp. nov. Illustrations of habitus and major diagnost...

Se describen dos nuevos géneros y tres nuevas especies de escarabajos estafilínidos pselaphine endémicas de Nueva Zelanda que pertenecen a la supertribu Faronitae de la siguiente manera: Chandlerea Park & Carlton, gen. nov., incluyendo C. donaldi Park & Carlton, sp. nov.; y Nunnea Park & Carlton, gen. nov., incluyendo N. johni Park & Carlton, sp. n...

A new endemic genus and seven new species of New Zealand pselaphine staphylinid beetles of the supertribe Faronitae are described as follows: Pseudoexeirarthra Park & Carlton, gen. n. (type species: Sagolaspinifer Broun); Pseudoexeirarthrasungmini Park & Carlton, sp. n.; Pseudoexeirarthrakwangguki Park & Carlton, sp. n.; Pseudoexeirarthrayoungboki...

The pselaphine genus Sagola Sharp (type species: Sagola misella Sharp) comprises 143 species occurring in the New Zealand region and divided among 31 species-groups. Ninety-five species are described as new herein: Sagola coromandelensis Park and Carlton, new species; Sagola northlandensis Park and Carlton, new species; Sagola taranakiensis Park an...

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an invasive pest of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., rice, Oryza sativa L., and other graminaceous crops in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Traps baited with E. loftini female sex pheromones were used to document establishment and distribution of E. loftini near sugar...

Three undescribed species within the genera Lucifotychus, Pselaptrichus, and Tychus were discovered from a total of 654 specimens of Pselaphinae collected from Mt. Rainier National Park and surrounding localities during the time period from 1995–2009. A checklist of additional Pselaphine species currently known from Mt. Rainier National Park is pro...

A new genus and three new species of New Zealand endemic pselaphine staphylinid beetles belonging to the supertribe Faronitae are described as follows: Pseudostenosagola Park and Carlton, gen. nov.; Pseudostenosagola coromandelensis Park and Carlton, sp. nov.; Pseudostenosagola wellingtonensis Park and Carlton, sp. nov.; and Pseudostenosagola solod...

The camphor shot borer, Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford) is a nonnative ambrosia beetle first reported in the United States in 1999 at Oktibbeha County in Mississippi. Although, C. mutilatus is a major pest of several trees in its native habitat in Asia, it is not yet a major pest in the United States. However, the range expansion in recent years acro...

Leptochromus laselva Lord, Carlton, and Leschen, new species, from Costa Rica is described. Collecting techniques and natural history data are given. Among the five currently described species, this species is most similar to Leptochromus agilis (Sharp), but possesses a much longer postgenal process and differs in the shapes of the aedeagal paramer...

Two new species of pselaphine staphylinids in the genus Batrisodes are described: B. (Declivodes) dorothae Ferro and Carlton from Feliciana Preserve, Louisiana; and B. (Babnormodes) spretoides Ferro and Carlton from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. They differ from all other described Batrisodes species in secondary male characters,...

The woodwasp Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) has become established in North America. A primary tactic for the management of S. noctilio in the southern hemisphere has been the development of a biological control agent, Deladenus siricidicola Bedding. This nematode has a bicyclic life cycle including a mycetophagous free-living and paras...

Sixteen dead Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britton & Rose (Cactaceae), known variously as fishhook barrel cactus, candy barrel cactus, or compass plant, were discovered in various states of decay near Portal, Arizona during July 2011. A survey of the Coleoptera in the rotting cacti resulted in the collection of 976 specimens representing 11 famili...

The New Zealand Faronitae was revised at the species level, and a phylogenetic study was performed based on morphological and molecular data. Eight new genera and 143 new species were discovered. Three new genera, “Brounea”, “Ahnea” and “Pseudoexeirarthra” were designated based on the species originally described in the genus Sagola. Five new gener...

Collection methods and/or habitats sampled influence how many and which species are captured during entomological surveys. Here we compare Coleoptera catches among three survey activities, each using a single collection method, at the same study sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Activities included: short-term flight intercept trap...

Coleoptera species composition and succession in downed woody debris habitats are poorly known in eastern North America. A photoeclector emergence chamber was used to concentrate Coleoptera that emerged from various decay classes of fine and coarse woody debris (FWD and CWD, respectively) collected in primary and secondary forest sites in Great Smo...

The community within extremely decayed downed coarse woody debris, here referred to as decay class V (CWD5), has never been systematically sampled. The presumption has been that rotten wood is eventually overrun by surrounding soil and litter inhabitants. Leaf litter and CWD5 were sampled for Coleoptera with a sifting/ Berlese technique at three pr...

A phylogenetic analysis of the supertribe Faronitae Reitter based on four different loci of molecular DNA data is presented. The analysis includes 20 taxa with three outgroups, and approximately 4000 basepairs of mitochondrial (COI, 600 bp) and nuclear DNA (18S, 1800 bp; 28S, 950 bp; wingless, 650 bp). Seventeen ingroups of faronite beetles are rep...

The two species of pselaphine staphylinid beetles described herein represent the first unambiguous records of true troglobitic beetles from caves in the Ozark Plateau region of Arkansas. Speleochus macosar Carlton, new species, is based on a series of six specimens collected from Whippoorwill Cave, Madison County, northwestern Arkansas. Speleochus...

We investigated the taxonomic implications of two species of the anilline carabid genus Anillinus Casey described from Brazil, Anillinus minor Zaballos and Mateu and Anillinus magnus Zaballos and Mateu. Comparison of the aedeagus of A. minor to those of North American representatives of the genus led to the conclusion that A. minor should be placed...

We clarify the diagnosis and geographic distribution of the widespread, variable eastern coastal species Languria taedata LeConte, 1854, in North America. After examining types and the range of variation and geographical distribution of the species, we propose synonymy of L. erythrocephalus Blatchley, 1924, with L. taedata, new synonymy. We report...

A study of saproxylic beetles was conducted during 2006 and 2007 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA. Six sites, three each in primary and secondary forests were sampled. Emergence chambers were used to collect beetles from dead wood of two sizes (fine=2.5-7.0 cm diameter, coarse=8.0-20.0 cm diameter) and three decay classes from...

The New Zealand pselaphine genus Stenosagola Broun (type species = S. planiocula Broun) comprises 21 species, 18 of which are described as new: Stenosagola pseudogracilis Park and Carlton, new species; Stenosagola clarkei Park and Carlton, new species; Stenosagola egmontensis Park and Carlton, new species; Stenosagola ramsayi Park and Carlton, new...

A taxonomic review of the New Zealand genus Exeirarthra Broun is presented. Six species are documented, and three new species are described and illustrated: Exeirarthra maclennanensis Park & Carlton, sp. nov.; Exeirarthra mccollae Park & Carlton, sp. nov.; and Exeirarthra nunni Park & Carlton, sp. nov. Two species, Exeirarthra angustula Broun and E...

The rotting wood habitat is a difficult medium to sample for beetles. The most invasive method is direct dissection of the wood with removal of the (often immature) insects. While this may be the most expedient method of surveying rotting wood, the collector is biased toward species with large and easy-to-see adults and larvae, and against species...

The generic and suprageneric arrangement of the beetle family Phalacridae has been uncontested for over a century, largely because of their small size and structural monotony. The last comprehensive treatment of the group, that of Guillebeau (1894), contained no illustrations, created a largely non-nomenclatural tribal classification based on unsta...

A taxonomic review of the genus Leptusa Kraatz from Great Smoky Mountains National Park is presented. Ten species are recognized, and four new species are described and illustrated: L. (Adoxopisalia) pseudosmokyiensis Park & Carlton, sp. nov., L. (A.) stocksi Park & Carlton, sp. nov., L. (Dysleptusa) gimmeli Park & Carlton, sp. nov., and L. (Eucryp...

Fifteen new species of faronine pselaphines in the genus Sonoma Casey are described: S. baylessae; S. brasstownensis; S. chouljenkoi; S. cygnus; S. gilae; S. gimmeli; S. holmesi; S. mayori; S. nicholsae; S. parkorum; S. nhunguyeni; S. sokolovi; S. streptophorophallus; S. tishechkini; S. tridens. Male specimens of Sonoma tolulae (LeConte) were colle...

The Anillinus loweae–species group comprises five species occurring in the southern Appalachian Mountains and adjacent upland terrains in southeastern United States. Three new species are described herein. Two are members of theloweae-group, Anillinus merritti sp. nov. from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) (southeastern Tennessee and wes...

The Anillinus loweae–species group comprises five species occurring in the southern Appalachian Mountains and adjacent upland terrains in southeastern United States. Three new species are described herein. Two are members of the loweae-group, Anillinus merritti sp. nov. from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) (southeastern Tennessee and we...

Two species of bark lice, Xanthocaecilius sommermanae Mockford and Polypsocus corruptus Hagen, collected in a canopy Malaise trap placed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as part of a survey of the park's fauna, were found to be infected with microsporidia. Diagnosis was originally based on light microscopy, and was confirmed by PCR amplificat...

Eoreuma loftini has expanded its range from the LRGV to east Texas, and now into southwest Louisiana. LDAF and LSU AgCenter scientists forecast that natural and unintended artificial movement will result in the continued spread of E. loftini toward the heart of Louisiana's rice and sugarcane-growing regions. The 12-XII-2008 collection was the first...

Sonoma tolulae (LeConte) is the only named species of Sonoma in the Eastern United States among 25 total North American species. The holotype is a female collected from “cataractam Georgi.” While attempting to better define the species using male genitalia at least 16 additional cryptic species of Sonoma were discovered. A harrowing tale of the nec...

Ninety three bumble bees belonging to the genus Bombus, subgenus Pyrobombus (three Bombus vagans, seven Bombus bimaculatus, 17 B. sandersoni and 68 B. impatiens) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park were examined for microsporidia. Light microscopy of calcoflour and trichrome-stained smears, and PCR revealed infection with N. bombi in one speci...

The leafminer, Elachista saccharella (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) was found in Louisiana on 12 Jul 2006 and documented as a new distribution record for Louisiana. The leafminer was found in 17 of 20 sugarcane producing parishes surveyed. Although distributed generally throughout the sugarcane growing region, only 11% of the stalks sampled (n...

We conducted a study to explore which beetles utilize dead twigs in a Louisiana secondary forest and the effect of debris position on the beetle community. Twigs averaging 14 mm in diameter from one tree of Quercus falcata Michaux (southern red oak) were placed randomly into bundles of ten. At each of three sites, three bundles were laid on the gro...

Approximately 9,100 species belonging to the staphylinid beetle subfamily Pselaphinae have been described based on adults, but the larvae of only 19 species and 15 genera have been described in sufficient detail for systematic study, and the pupa of only a single species has been described. Larvae of the euplectine tribe Mayetiini (152 species, all...

Pseudotriphyllus defoei new species represents the first North American species record of this predominantly Eurasian mycetophagid genus. The species is known from two specimens recovered from a single Berlese sample in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (type locality, Albright Grove Loop Trail). It differs from other described Pse...

Approximately 8,900 species of the staphylinid beetle subfamily Pselaphinae have been described, based on adults, but the larvae of only 18 species and 14 genera have been described in sufficient detail for systematic study. The larva of Pselaphophus atriventris (Westwood) (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphini) is described herein based on a seri...

The life cycle, morphology, and potential of Diomus terminatus Say (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to control the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were examined in the laboratory. The morphologies of first and fourth instars are described and illustrated, with emphasis on characters of first instar that differ fro...

We analyzed data from two beetle taxa, Pselaphinae (Staphylinidae) and Histeridae, collected during a seven-week expedition to Yasuni National Park (Napo Province, Ecuador) during June–August 1999. Smoothed species accumulation curves and richness estimators were used to assess the effectiveness of Berlese extraction, flight intercept traps, light...

Eight species of blind, wingless, amauropine pselaphines in the genus Arianops are described and placed in established species groups: in the amplyoponica group, A. obrieni, new species (type locality, Tyler County, Texas); in the nantahala group, A. carteri, new species (type locality, Union County, South Carolina); in the henroti group, A. clinto...

After a tree dies and falls to the forest floor, the last stage it passes through before losing individuality is decay class V. Comparisons were made between class V course woody debris (CWD) and surrounding leaf litter. The class V CWD harbors very few species, but of these many appear to be unique to that habitat.

Vaurie (1948: 143) synonymized L. femoralis with L. collaris LeConte, 1854, based on the original description. We were able to obtain the type, housed in the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University (ZMUM), Russia, and com- pared it with specimens representing all southern U.S. species of Languria. No additional types were examined, but the spe...