Scaphidiinae

Distinguished from other Staphylinidae by the combination of broadly oval compact body, long elytra covering most of the abdomen (leaving only terminal segments exposed), and 5-5-5 tarsal formula. The compact, rounded profile contrasts sharply with the elongate, parallel-sided form typical of most rove beetles. Identification to genus requires examination of detailed morphological characters including mouthpart structure and genitalia; keys to regional genera are available for Brazil and Mexico.

Broadly oval and compact body form, contrasting with the typically elongate shape of most Staphylinidae. Elytra are long and cover all but the last few abdominal segments. Legs are long and slender. Tarsi are 5-5-5 (pentamerous on all three pairs of legs). Body size ranges from approximately 0.84–14.30 mm in length. Many species exhibit a characteristic shiny or lustrous appearance.

Forest habitats, particularly tropical and subtropical forests. Strongly associated with fungal substrates including bracket fungi, resupinate fungi, mushrooms, and slime molds. Collections have been documented from Atlantic Forest remnants in Brazil, forests in Minas Gerais, and montane forests in Mexico (Jalisco, Morelos, Oaxaca).

Worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in tropical regions. Documented from Neotropical, Oriental, and other tropical regions. Specific records include: Brazil (Minas Gerais, Atlantic Forest), Mexico (Jalisco, Morelos, Oaxaca), Costa Rica. Seven genera and 70 species recorded from North America. The genus Scaphisoma is distributed almost worldwide.

Mycophagous; feeds on fungi and slime molds. The entire subfamily has been documented as obligately associated with fungal hosts.

• fungi - food and habitatbracket fungi, resupinate fungi, mushrooms
• slime molds - food and habitatMyxomycetes

Adults and larvae are found directly on host fungi. Adults disperse rapidly when disturbed, making field collection challenging and dependent on collector skill and appropriate techniques. Hand collecting from host fungi is considered the most effective method, as it allows collection of both adults and larvae together to establish host associations.

Subject of taxonomic research due to high undescribed diversity; recent studies from Brazil alone have described over 25 new species. Collected using specialized methods including hand collecting, sifting of fungi and associated substrates, flight intercept traps, and aspirators. A simple low-cost collecting device has been developed specifically for mushroom-dwelling species.

• other StaphylinidaeMost rove beetles have short elytra exposing most of the abdomen and elongate parallel-sided bodies; Scaphidiinae have long elytra covering most of the abdomen and compact oval bodies
• Coleoptera: other fungus-associated beetlesDistinctive tarsal formula (5-5-5) and body form separate Scaphidiinae from other small beetles found on fungi

• mycophagous
• fungus-associated
• tropical diversity
• rove beetles
• Atlantic Forest

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Taxonomy, host associations, and collecting methods of shining fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil
• Twenty new species of Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil
• Four new species of Scaphisoma Leach with maculate elytra (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) from Mexico, with new records and comments on S. balteatum Matthews
• Contributions to the taxonomy of Neotropical Cyparium Erichson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae), with the description of five new species
• Notes on Scaphium Kirby (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) with establishment of a new synonymy
• A simple, low-cost device for collecting mushroom-dwelling Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)
• Scaphisoma pandemum sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) from the Atlantic Forest of Southeast Brazil