Aleocharini

Fleming, 1821

Aleocharini is the tribe of the Aleocharinae, containing three subtribes: Aleocharina, Compactopediina, and Hodoxenina. The tribe comprises approximately 29 and over 650 , with the vast majority of diversity concentrated in the subtribe Aleocharina—particularly the genus Aleochara, which alone contains over 500 species. Members are () exhibiting diverse ecological strategies, including free-living forms and myrmecophilous species associated with .

Aleochara lata by no rights reserved, uploaded by Ken Kneidel. Used under a CC0 license.

Aleochara littoralis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Nick Bédard. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aleocharini: /ˌæl.iː.əʊˈkær.ɪ.naɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Aleocharinae tribes by a combination of tarsal and mouthpart characteristics, though precise tribal boundaries require examination. Subtribe Aleocharina is characterized by particular configurations of the maxillary and labial . Myrmecophilous members may exhibit morphological modifications including physogastric and for interacting with . Compactopediina and Hodoxenina contain fewer with more restricted distributions.

Images

Habitat

span diverse environments from forest litter and decaying matter to specialized microhabitats within colonies. Myrmecophilous inhabit nests of specific ant including Aenictus laeviceps in Southeast Asia and Aphaenogaster in Morocco.

Distribution

distribution with highest diversity in the Palaearctic region. Documented from Turkey and adjacent regions, Nepal and the Himalaya, Sarawak (Malaysia), Morocco, and Borneo. The subtribe Aleocharina dominates in temperate regions, while Compactopediina and Hodoxenina have more limited geographic ranges.

Host Associations

Aenictus laeviceps - myrmecophilousstrict to of this in Sarawak, Malaysia
Aphaenogaster - myrmecophilous in Morocco

Behavior

Myrmecosticta exceptionalis exhibits the first documented myrmecoid (-mimicking) within Aleocharini, representing convergence with myrmecoid forms in other tribes. Strict has been demonstrated for myrmecophilous associated with Aenictus laeviceps, with different species specializing on distinct ant .

Similar Taxa

Lomechusinialso myrmecophilous Aleocharinae, but distinguished by different mouthpart and tarsal structures; Aleocharini is the tribe of the
other Aleocharinae tribesrequire examination of mouthparts, tarsal formula, and male for definitive identification