Potential indicator species of climate changes occurring in Québec, Part 1: the small brown lacewing fly Micromusposticus (Walker) (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae)

Biodivers Data J. 2013 Sep 16:(1):e970. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.1.e970. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Micromusposticus (Walker) is a small brown lacewing fly rarely collected in Canada and represented in collections by only a limited number of specimens. Indeed, fewer than 50 specimens were captured in Québec and Ontario over the last century, all within a small area delimited by the northern shore of Lake Erie, Ottawa and Montréal. Aylmer, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, northwest of Ottawa, is a new, most southwestern locality record of this species for Québec. The Aylmer specimens were collected 1-7 days later than any of the known specimens collected elsewhere in Québec or in Ontario, and 16-22 days later than in the neighbouring localities, indicating an apparent phenological shift.

Keywords: Eastern Canada; Hemerobiidae; Micromusposticus; Neuroptera; Québec; climate change; indicator species.