Aleocharinae
Guides
Acrotona
Acrotona is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Thomson in 1859. The genus contains at least 30 described species. Recent taxonomic work has identified new species, including Acrotona brachyoptera from New Brunswick, Canada. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Aleocharinae, a diverse group within the rove beetles.
Aleochara bimaculata
Two-spotted Aleochara
Aleochara bimaculata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It belongs to the large and diverse subfamily Aleocharinae, which contains thousands of species worldwide. The species name "bimaculata" refers to two spots, likely describing a distinctive marking on the elytra. As with many Aleochara species, it is probably associated with decaying organic matter and may have ecological importance in nutrient cycling.
Aleochara curtula
Shortened Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara curtula is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, distributed across the Palearctic region and introduced to North America. Adults measure approximately 7 mm in length with distinctive two-toned elytra and brush-like antennae. The species exhibits complex sexual behaviors including male-male aggression, female mimicry through pheromone production, and active female mate choice. Larvae are ectoparasitoids of fly pupae, developing within carrion habitats.
Aleochara lanuginosa
Woolly Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara lanuginosa is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by its minute size and distinctive woolly pubescence. The species is native to the Palearctic region but has been introduced to North America, where it is now established in Canada and the northern United States. It belongs to the subgenus Xenochara, a group of Aleochara species with specialized ecological associations.
Aleochara lucifuga
Aleochara lucifuga is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, characterized by the abbreviated elytra typical of Staphylinidae. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and is documented from multiple eastern and central U.S. states. It belongs to a large genus of predatory rove beetles, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented.
Aleochara speculicollis
Shiny Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara speculicollis is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Bernhauer in 1901. The species is characterized by a notably shiny, reflective pronotum that contributes to its common name. It occurs across a broad transcontinental range from Canada through the United States to Mexico. Like other members of the genus Aleochara, it is presumed to be associated with decaying organic matter and carrion habitats.
Aleochara thoracica
Aleochara thoracica is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Falagriini. The species was described by Stephens in 1832 and is currently accepted under this name, though it has been classified under the genus Falagrioma in some treatments. It occurs in northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.
Aleocharini
Aleocharini is the type tribe of the subfamily Aleocharinae, containing three subtribes: Aleocharina, Compactopediina, and Hodoxenina. The tribe comprises approximately 29 genera and over 650 species, with the vast majority of diversity concentrated in the subtribe Aleocharina—particularly the genus Aleochara, which alone contains over 500 species. Members are rove beetles (Staphylinidae) exhibiting diverse ecological strategies, including free-living forms and myrmecophilous species associated with ants.
Aleodorus bilobatus
Two-lobed Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus bilobatus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) native to eastern North America. Adults measure 2.8–4.1 mm and exhibit variable coloration from light brown to black. The species is associated with wet riparian habitats, particularly vegetation along rivers and ditches. It is classified in the tribe Falagriini within the subfamily Aleocharinae.
Aleodorus intricatus
Intricate Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus intricatus is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Falagriini. It measures 3.1–4.1 mm and is uniformly light to dark brownish-testaceous in color. The species is distributed in western North America from the southwestern United States to southern Canada.
Alisalia
Alisalia is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) containing 10 described species. The genus was established by Casey in 1911 and is classified within the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Oxypodini, and subtribe Meoticina. Species are distributed across North America, with most described from the early 20th century and two added in 2009.
Aloconota
Aloconota is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the tribe Geostibini, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Carl Gustaf Thomson in 1858. It has a cosmopolitan distribution with records from Europe, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Six species are currently recognized: A. currax, A. debilicornis, A. gregaria, A. insecta, A. planifrons, and A. sulcifrons.
Aloconota neocambrica
Variable Minute Rove Beetle
Aloconota neocambrica is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, described from eastern Canada in 2011. It belongs to the tribe Geostibini, a group of small aleocharines associated with forest floor habitats. The species epithet "neocambrica" references New Brunswick, indicating the type locality region. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Amarochara
A genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Oxypodini) established by C.G. Thomson in 1858. The genus comprises approximately 25 valid species distributed across the Holarctic region, with the majority described or redescribed in a comprehensive 2002 revision. Holarctic species are organized into five species groups based on phylogenetic analysis, replacing the previous subgeneric classification system.
Amarochara duryi
Amarochara duryi is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1906. It belongs to the large subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most diverse groups within Staphylinidae. The species is known from scattered records across northeastern North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (New Brunswick, Quebec) and the United States (Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts). Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Amarochara fenyesi
Fenyes's Minute Rove Beetle
A small rove beetle in the genus Amarochara, described by Blatchley in 1910. It is one of 25 valid species recognized in the Holarctic revision of the genus. The species belongs to a group characterized by specific morphological traits and shares the genus-wide trait of apparently utilizing subterranean habitats for reproduction and hibernation.
Amarochara forticornis
Amarochara forticornis is a rove beetle species in the tribe Oxypodini, originally described by Lacordaire in 1835. It is one of 25 valid species recognized in the Holarctic revision of the genus Amarochara. The species has undergone taxonomic clarification, with previous synonymies resolved. It is assigned to one of five species groups established for Holarctic representatives of the genus.
Amarochara inquilina
Amarochara inquilina is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described as Nasirema inquilina by Casey in 1906. A lectotype was designated for this species in a 2002 revision of Holarctic Amarochara. The species is known from northeastern Canada (New Brunswick) and Iowa, USA. Like other Holarctic members of its genus, it is believed to have a univoltine life cycle with spring-summer reproduction.
Anacyptus testaceus
Anacyptus testaceus is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. It belongs to the tribe Mesoporini, a group of aleocharines characterized by particular morphological features of the mouthparts and tarsal structure. The species was described by J.L. LeConte in 1863 and occurs across a broad geographic range in North America, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Anomognathus cuspidatus
Anomognathus cuspidatus is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, with introduced populations established in eastern North America including Canada and the northeastern United States. The species belongs to the tribe Homalotini, a group of aleocharine rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Apalonia
Apalonia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1906. The genus contains at least 40 described species, placing it among the more species-rich genera within the aleocharine rove beetles. These beetles belong to the tribe Athetini, a large and diverse group characterized by small body size and complex morphological features. The genus has been documented in entomological collections, though detailed biological studies remain limited for most species.
Apalonia seticornis
Apalonia seticornis is a small rove beetle described by Casey in 1906. It belongs to the hyperdiverse subfamily Aleocharinae within Staphylinidae. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the central and eastern United States.
Atheta frosti
Atheta frosti is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. It was described by Bernhauer in 1909. The species is known from scattered records across northern North America, with documented occurrences in Canada and the northeastern United States. As with many aleocharine rove beetles, detailed biological information remains limited.
Atheta longicornis
Atheta longicornis is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1802. The species has a broad native distribution across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, and has been introduced to North America (Canada and the United States), Australia, and other regions. As a member of the hyperdiverse genus Atheta, it inhabits various terrestrial habitats where it contributes to decomposition processes. The species is characterized by its relatively long antennae, which inspired its specific epithet.
Atheta particula
Atheta particula is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1910. It belongs to the large and diverse subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most species-rich lineages within the rove beetles. The species has been documented from limited observations in northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the northeastern United States. Like many aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Atheta pennsylvanica
Atheta pennsylvanica is a species of rove beetle described by Bernhauer in 1907. It belongs to the large genus Atheta within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species is known from eastern North America, with records spanning Canada and the northeastern United States. Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is small-bodied and associated with soil and leaf litter habitats.
Atheta remulsa
Atheta remulsa is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1910. The species is known from a broad geographic range across northern North America, including most Canadian provinces and territories as well as Alaska and New York in the United States. It is one of thousands of beetle species documented in regional biodiversity surveys, including recent work in New Brunswick, Canada.
Athetini
Athetini is a large tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) comprising at least 50 genera and 430 described species. The tribe is taxonomically complex, with ongoing research into its limits and internal relationships; it was not recovered as monophyletic in molecular phylogenetic studies. Multiple independent origins of coastal habitat specialization have been documented within the tribe.
Autalia
Autalia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Leach in 1819. The genus belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae and is the type genus of the tribe Autaliini. Species are documented from Europe, Northern America, and the Neotropics. The genus includes at least four recognized species: Autalia impressa, A. longicornis, A. puncticollis, and A. rivularis.
Autalia puncticollis
Autalia puncticollis is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, described by Sharp in 1864. It belongs to the tribe Autaliini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species has a Palearctic native distribution across Europe, Russia, Turkey, and Japan, with introduced populations in western North America including British Columbia, California, and Washington.
Beyeria vespa
Beyeria vespa is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Fenyes in 1910. It belongs to the tribe Crematoxenini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species is known to occur in North America, with documented records from Arizona, USA. As a member of Staphylinidae, it possesses the characteristic short elytra that leave most of the abdomen exposed.
Bolitocharina
Bolitocharina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the tribe Homalotini, subfamily Aleocharinae. It was established by Carl Gustaf Thomson in 1859. The subtribe contains multiple genera of small to minute beetles characterized by compact body forms and reduced elytra typical of the family. Members are found primarily in the Holarctic region, with some representation in other biogeographic zones.
Boreostiba
Boreostiba is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, and tribe Athetini. It was described by Lohse in 1990 and is currently accepted as valid. The genus is known from northern Europe, with distribution records from Norway and Sweden. As a member of the Athetini, it belongs to a diverse tribe of small to medium-sized rove beetles commonly found in forest litter and other decaying organic matter.
Callicerus
Callicerus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) in the tribe Geostibini. The genus contains seven recognized species distributed across the Palaearctic region, particularly Europe. Species are notably rare to extremely rare in collections, with most records limited to scattered localities. Taxonomic revision in 2001 clarified species boundaries and synonymized several previously described taxa.
Callicerus obscurus
Callicerus obscurus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Geostibini) described by Gravenhorst in 1802. The species has a Palearctic distribution centered in Europe, with records from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as central European Russia. It has been introduced to Ontario, Canada. The species is known from 27 iNaturalist observations but lacks detailed published biological studies.
Calodera
Calodera is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1830. It contains at least seven described species and has a cosmopolitan distribution. Members belong to the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Oxypodini, and are characterized by the typical short elytra and flexible abdomen of staphylinid beetles.
Calodera parviceps
Calodera parviceps is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. First described by Casey in 1893, this small beetle is distributed across northern North America including Canada and Alaska. It belongs to the tribe Oxypodini, a group of aleocharine rove beetles. The species epithet "parviceps" (small head) likely refers to a distinguishing morphological feature.
Coenonica puncticollis
Coenonica puncticollis is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. Originally described from Madagascar in 1857, this species has been introduced to multiple regions worldwide and is now established in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Europe, Egypt, the United States (Florida), and various Caribbean and South American localities. Its native range encompasses the Oriental region, Ryukyu Islands, New Guinea, Tahiti, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, and the Seychelles. The species belongs to the tribe Homalotini within the diverse aleocharine rove beetles.
Colusa
Colusa is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, established by Thomas L. Casey in 1885. The genus belongs to the tribe Oxypodini and is part of the diverse and species-rich rove beetle family, which is characterized by abbreviated elytra that expose most of the abdomen. Little is known about the biology or species diversity of this genus.
Cypha
Cypha is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Leach in 1819. The genus contains multiple described species and has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. As members of the subfamily Aleocharinae and tribe Hypocyphtini, these beetles are part of one of the most species-rich lineages of rove beetles. The genus is distinguished from related taxa by specific morphological characters of the mouthparts and genitalia.
Cyphea
Cyphea is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, and tribe Homalotini. It was described by Fauvel in 1863. The genus contains at least one described species, Cyphea curtula. Members of this genus are found in Europe and North America.
Cyphea wallisi
Cyphea wallisi is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Fenyes in 1921. It belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae, a large and diverse group of small beetles. The species is known from multiple Canadian provinces, with records spanning from Alberta to Prince Edward Island. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting it may be underreported or genuinely uncommon.
Dadobiina
Dadobiina is a subtribe of rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae, established by Muona in 1979. It is classified within the tribe Athetini and subtribe Athetina of the subfamily Aleocharinae. The subtribe is currently treated as a synonym in the Catalogue of Life. Dadobiina represents a historical taxonomic grouping within the diverse and species-rich aleocharine rove beetles.
Dasygnypeta
Dasygnypeta is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, and tribe Tachyusini. It was described by Lohse in 1974. The genus is known from Europe, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. A single species, Dasygnypeta velata, has been described.
Decusa expansa
Decusa expansa is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866. It belongs to the tribe Oxypodini within the subtribe Dinardina. The species has been documented from several eastern and midwestern U.S. states. Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely small-bodied with reduced elytra typical of the family.
Devia
Devia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Blackwelder in 1952 and is classified within the tribe Oxypodini. Rove beetles in this genus are small, elongate beetles with the characteristic abbreviated elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The genus is distinct from the plant genus Devia (Iridaceae), which was described later by Goldblatt & Manning in 1990.
Devia prospera
Devia prospera is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) described by Erichson in 1839. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring naturally across northern Eurasia from Europe through Russia to Japan, and has been introduced to North America where it is now established across Canada and the northern United States. As a member of the diverse rove beetle family, it inhabits various terrestrial environments where these beetles are typically found.
Dexiogyia angustiventris
Dexiogyia angustiventris is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and is known from scattered records across eastern North America. It belongs to the tribe Oxypodini, a group of aleocharines commonly associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Diaulota fulviventris
Diaulota fulviventris is a flightless intertidal rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is one of two species in a lineage that crossed the Pacific Ocean directly from the northwestern Pacific to the northeastern Pacific, likely via sea surface currents, rather than following the coastal route taken by most congeners. The species occurs in western North America and Mexico.
Diestota
Diestota is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Diestotini. The genus was established by Mulsant & Rey in 1870. Members of this genus are small, typically inconspicuous beetles associated with decaying organic matter. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases, suggesting either genuine rarity or undercollecting due to their cryptic habits.