Review of theOcaleagroup of genera (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) in Canada and Alaska: new taxa, bionomics, and distribution
Authors: Klimaszewski Jan , Pelletier Georges 
Published: April 2009

A review of the Nearctic genera and Canadian and Alaskan species of theOcaleagroup is presented. Ten genera are treated, with five erected as new:AlfocaleaKlimaszewskigen. nov.(type species:A. montanaKlimaszewskisp. nov.),BetocaleaKlimaszewskigen. nov.(type species:B. pacificaKlimaszewskisp. nov.),GennadotaCasey (reinstated),LongipeltinaBernhauer,MegocaleaKlimaszewskigen. nov.(type species:M. lemieuxiKlimaszewskisp. nov.),MetocaleaKlimaszewskigen. nov.(type species:M. lindgreniKlimaszewskisp. nov.),Neoisoglossa(Casey) (nomen novum),NeothetaliaKlimaszewskigen. nov.(type species:N. nimia(Casey)),OcaleaErichson (restricted definition), andParocaleaBernhauer. Twenty-four species of theOcaleagroup are here recognized in the Nearctic region, fourteen of which occur in Canada. Six new species are described from western Canada and Alaska:Neothetalia smetanaiKlimaszewskisp. nov.(Canada: British Columbia),Neothetalia canadianaKlimaszewskisp. nov.(Canada: British Columbia, Yukon Territory; United States: Alaska),Betocalea pacifica(Canada: British Columbia),Alfocalea montana(Canada: Alberta, British Columbia),Metocalea lindgreni(Canada: British Columbia), andMegocalea lemieuxi(Canada: British Columbia). The first record ofNeoisoglossa agnita(Casey) in Alberta is provided. Two nominal species,Atheta(Athetalia)bicarnicepsCasey (=Neoisoglossa) andIsoglossa grandicollis(Casey) (=Neoisoglossa), are here synonymized withNeoisoglossa arcuata(Casey).Aleochara pallitarsisKirby has been transferred to the genusNeothetaliaand is newly recorded from Alaska and British Columbia.Ocalea columbianaKlimaszewski has been transferred toNeothetaliaand is newly recorded from Alaska.Neothetalia pallitarsiswas formerly recorded from an unknown locality in North America andNeothetalia columbianafrom the Carmanah Valley on Vancouver Island.Neothetalia nimiais newly recorded from Alaska. A new generic classification is proposed to accommodate species of the NearcticOcaleagroup. New data are provided on the systematics, relationships, bionomics, and distribution of the Nearctic species and genera of America north of Mexico. Diagnoses, colour images of entire bodies, and line illustrations of genital features are provided for those Canadian and Alaskan species that were not formerly illustrated, and their collection localities are plotted on maps. A key to Nearctic genera of theOcaleagroup and the species occurring in Canada and Alaska is presented. The lectotypes have been designated for the following nominal species because the original series consisted of syntypes or represented mixed species or both sexes but with males bearing a better diagnostic set of characters:Aleochara picataStephens (=Ocalea),Atheta(Athetalia)bicarniceps,Atheta(Athetalia)nimiaCasey (=Neothetalia),Atheta(Athetalia)repensaCasey (=Neoisoglossa),Isoglossa arcuataCasey (=Neoisoglossa),Ocalea agnitaCasey (=Neoisoglossa),Ocalea franciscanaCasey (=Neoisoglossa),Ocalea fuscaFenyes (=Neoisoglossa),Ocalea grandicollisCasey (=Neoisoglossa),Pyroglossa grossaBernhauer,Rheobioma disjunctaCasey (=Neoisoglossa),Rheobioma marcidaCasey (=Neoisoglossa), andRheobioma terrenaCasey (=Neoisoglossa).