Aleocharinae
Guides
Microlia
Microlia is a small genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Hoplandriini) comprising approximately twelve species. The genus has a disjunct distribution across Australasian and New World regions, with recent records from Brazil representing the first South American occurrences. Members of this genus are obligate pollen-feeders, with multiple species documented in association with flowers of Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae, and Monimiaceae.
Mocyta
Mocyta is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Athetini. The genus comprises 26 known Palearctic species, with five confirmed in Ukraine and additional species documented across Europe and North America. Species identification is complicated by significant individual variability in size, coloration, and spermatheca morphology. The genus has been used in ecological monitoring and biogeographic studies, particularly in forest ecosystems.
Mocyta sphagnorum
Mocyta sphagnorum is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described in 2015 from Canadian material. The species is associated with Sphagnum moss habitats, as indicated by its specific epithet. It belongs to the large subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most diverse groups within the rove beetles. The species has been documented from multiple Canadian provinces and Alaska.
Myllaena
Myllaena is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, and tribe Myllaenini. The genus contains more than 60 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. A taxonomic revision of Nearctic species recognized 20 species arranged into four species groups: Cuneata, Insomnis, Potawatomi, and Seminole.
Myllaena audax
Myllaena audax is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Thomas Lincoln Casey in 1911. It belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the largest subfamilies of rove beetles. The species has been recorded across northern North America, with documented occurrences in Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, and in the United States from Alaska to the Northeast and across to the Pacific Northwest. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with moist habitats where it functions as a generalist predator or scavenger, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Myllaenini
Myllaenini is a tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the subfamily Aleocharinae, established by Ganglbauer in 1895. Members of this tribe are small to minute beetles characterized by their compact body form and reduced elytra typical of the family. The tribe contains several genera distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
Myrmecocephalus
Myrmecocephalus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Falagriini. The genus contains approximately 115 recognized species as of 2026 and has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with ant colonies, reflecting their myrmecophilous lifestyle implied by the genus name.
Myrmecocephalus cingulatus
Myrmecocephalus cingulatus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) in the tribe Falagriini. It occurs across eastern North America from Canada to the southern United States. The genus name 'Myrmecocephalus' (ant-head) refers to the ant-like appearance of these beetles. This species is rarely collected and poorly known biologically.
Myrmecocephalus concinnus
Myrmecocephalus concinnus is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It has an exceptionally broad geographic distribution spanning six continents, including native ranges in Africa, North and South America, Europe, and Asia, with introduced populations in New Zealand and the Galápagos Islands. The species belongs to the tribe Falagriini, a group of small to medium-sized rove beetles often associated with ant colonies or decaying organic matter.
Myrmedonota aidani
Myrmedonota aidani is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, described in 2008. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with ant colonies, though specific ecological details for this species remain undocumented. The species is known from limited collection records in eastern North America.
Myrmedonota lewisi
Myrmedonota lewisi is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Maruyama & Klimaszewski in 2008. The species is known from Indiana, USA. It belongs to the tribe Lomechusini, a group noted for ant-associated behaviors. Members of the genus Myrmedonota are recognized for their ecological relationships with ants, including predation on ants attracted by alarm pheromones.
Myrmobiota
Myrmobiota is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Oxypodini, established by Casey in 1893. Species in this genus are associated with ant colonies, exhibiting myrmecophilous habits. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the largest radiations within beetles.
Myrmoecia
Myrmoecia is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Lomechusini, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus contains nine described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Members of this genus are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants. The genus was established by Mulsant and Rey in 1873.
Myrmoecia lauta
Myrmoecia lauta is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The species was described by Casey in 1893. It belongs to the tribe Lomechusini, a group known for myrmecophilous (ant-associated) associations. Records indicate presence in northeastern North America with some questionable reports from China.
Neobeyeria arizonensis
Neobeyeria arizonensis is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described in 1987 from Arizona. It belongs to the tribe Crematoxenini within the subfamily Aleocharinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized beetles characterized by their shortened elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. As a member of this tribe, it is likely associated with termite colonies, though specific host relationships for this species remain undocumented.
Neotobia
Neotobia is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Homalotini, and subtribe Bolitocharina. It was described by Ashe in 1992. As a member of the diverse aleocharine fauna, it belongs to a lineage characterized by small body size and reduced elytra. The genus appears to be rarely collected, with minimal observational records available.
Neotobia alberta
Neotobia alberta is a rove beetle species described by Ashe in 1992, belonging to the subfamily Aleocharinae within the family Staphylinidae. The species is known from scattered localities across Canada and the northeastern United States. As a member of the Homalotini tribe, it is likely associated with fungal or decaying organic substrates, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species name refers to Alberta, Canada, where the type specimen was presumably collected.
Ocyusa
Ocyusa is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the tribe Oxypodini. It was described by Kraatz in 1856. The genus contains at least two described species: Ocyusa apicalis and Ocyusa argus. Species are recorded from Europe and North America.
Oligota chrysopyga
Oligota chrysopyga is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, characterized by its compact body and metallic coloration. The species has been introduced to multiple regions outside its native range, including Europe, Canada, and the United States. Its wide distribution across tropical and subtropical zones suggests human-mediated dispersal, though specific ecological impacts remain poorly documented.
Oxypoda acuminata
Oxypoda acuminata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. It is a small, inconspicuous beetle with a Palearctic distribution, recorded across much of Europe and extending into Russia and parts of the Caucasus. The species is one of many in the large genus Oxypoda, which contains over 300 described species. Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Oxypoda chantali
Oxypoda chantali is a species of rove beetle described from Canada and Alaska in 2006. It belongs to the large genus Oxypoda within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species was established as part of a comprehensive revision that reorganized the North American Oxypoda fauna into 14 species groups. Like other members of its genus, it is a small-bodied staphylinid beetle with reduced elytra.
Oxypodina
Oxypodina is a subtribe of small rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) established by Thomson in 1859. Members of this group are classified within the tribe Oxypodini and are characterized by their compact body form and reduced wing venation compared to related aleocharines. The subtribe includes multiple genera distributed across temperate and boreal regions. These beetles are primarily ground-dwelling and are often collected in leaf litter, moss, and other decaying organic matter.
Oxypodini
Oxypodini is a tribe of small rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The tribe comprises more than 50 genera and approximately 580 described species. Members are distributed across the Holarctic region, with particular diversity in the Palaearctic. Several genera, including Amarochara, Ilyobates, Tectusa, and Porocallus, have been subject to recent taxonomic revision.
Parocyusa
Parocyusa is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Bernhauer in 1902 and contains at least one described species, Parocyusa americana. Members are found in Europe and North America.
Pella
Pella is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Lomechusini. These beetles are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants. The genus was established by Stephens in 1833 and contains species that are adapted to life within ant colonies, where they exploit resources and protection provided by their hosts.
Pella angustula
Pella angustula is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Thomas L. Casey in 1893. It is recorded from North America, specifically from Florida in the United States. The species belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae, a large and diverse group of rove beetles.
Pella schmitti
Pella schmitti is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, and tribe Lomechusini. It was described by Hamilton in 1895. The species is documented from eastern North America, with records from Canada (Ontario and Quebec) and the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania). Like other members of the genus Pella, it is likely associated with ant colonies, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Phanerota
Phanerota is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) comprising five described species. The genus was established by Casey in 1906 and belongs to the tribe Homalotini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. Species in this genus are distributed across North America and the Caribbean, with records from the United States, Cuba, and Canada.
Phanerota fasciata
Phanerota fasciata is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The species is notable for its specialized microhabitat association: both larvae and adults inhabit the gill tissue of mushrooms. This obligate mycophilous lifestyle represents a relatively uncommon ecological specialization among staphylinid beetles. The species is broadly distributed across eastern and central North America, with records extending from southern Canada to the southern United States.
Philotermes
Philotermes is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) containing seven described species. The genus belongs to the tribe Philotermitini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. Species were described between 1857 and 1957, with most described by Kraatz in 1857 and Seevers in 1938 and 1957. The genus is taxonomically accepted and placed within the rove beetle lineage Staphylinoidea.
Philotermes pilosus
Philotermes pilosus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Kraatz in 1857. It is a member of the tribe Philotermitini, a group associated with termite colonies. The species is recorded from eastern and central North America, with distribution records from multiple states including Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, and Ohio. As with other members of its tribe, it is presumed to be a termitophile, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Phloeopora
Phloeopora is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Erichson in 1837 and contains species distributed across Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Oxypodini and subtribe Phloeoporina. Documented species include Phloeopora adversa and Phloeopora africana.
Phloeopora gilbertae
Phloeopora gilbertae is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, described from Canada in 2016. It belongs to a genus associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter. The species is known from scattered localities across northern North America.
Phloeopora oregona
Phloeopora oregona is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1906. As a member of the subfamily Aleocharinae and tribe Oxypodini, it belongs to one of the most species-rich lineages of beetles. The specific epithet 'oregona' indicates its association with Oregon, which forms part of its known distribution in western North America.
Phymatura
Phymatura is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Homalotini, subtribe Bolitocharina. The genus was erected by Sahlberg in 1876. At least five species are now recognized globally, including P. blanchardi, P. brevicollis, P. japonica, and P. russa. Taxonomic boundaries within the genus remain problematic and require further study, including DNA analysis.
Placusa tachyporoides
Placusa tachyporoides is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) with a broad native distribution across the Palearctic, ranging from Europe and Russia through East Asia to the Himalayas. The species has been introduced to North America, with established populations in Canada and the northern United States. It belongs to the tribe Placusini, a group of small to minute aleocharines often associated with decaying organic matter and fungal substrates.
Platandria
Platandria is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Hoplandriini. Established by Casey in 1893, this genus belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized beetles characterized by shortened elytra. The genus has been recorded from the Chingaza region, suggesting a Neotropical distribution. Platandria species are likely associated with soil and leaf litter habitats, as is common for aleocharine rove beetles, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Platyusa sonomae
Platyusa sonomae is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is the sole described species in the monotypic genus Platyusa. The species is found in the western United States, particularly in California and Arizona, with scattered records elsewhere.
Pontomalota
Pontomalota is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Athetini, established by Casey in 1885. The genus belongs to a group of 'sea shore genera' within the family, suggesting association with coastal habitats. Two species are currently recognized: Pontomalota opaca (LeConte, 1863) and Pontomalota terminalia Ahn & Ashe, 1992. The genus is classified in the subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the largest and most diverse lineages of rove beetles.
Pontomalota opaca
Pontomalota opaca is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. The genus Pontomalota is characterized as a "sea shore genus," suggesting ecological affinity for coastal environments. This small beetle occurs in western North America, with records from Pacific coastal regions extending from Alaska through British Columbia to California, Oregon, and Washington, plus inland records from the northwestern United States. The species is among the least documented members of its genus, with limited observational records despite its relatively broad geographic range.
Sableta infulata
Sableta infulata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, described by Casey in 1910. It belongs to the tribe Athetini, a large group of small to medium-sized aleocharine rove beetles. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and central United States.
Sceptobius
Sceptobius is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Sharp in 1883. It contains at least three described species: S. dispar, S. lativentris, and S. schmitti. The genus belongs to the tribe Sceptobiini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. Little is documented about the biology of these beetles.
Sceptobius lativentris
Sceptobius lativentris is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Fenyes in 1909. It belongs to the tribe Sceptobiini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species has been recorded from North America and Central America, with specific documentation from California, USA.
Sceptobius schmitti
Sceptobius schmitti is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Sceptobiini. The genus Sceptobius is known for its myrmecophilous associations—species live in ant colonies. This species has been recorded from the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Seeversiella globicollis
A small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) distributed from southern Canada through the United States to Honduras. Originally described as Atheta globicollis in 1907, the species was transferred to Seeversiella in a 2006 revision that synonymized S. bispinosa with it. The genus Seeversiella is primarily Nearctic and Neotropical in distribution. No ecological or biological studies of this species have been published.
Silusa
Silusa is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Homalotini) established by Erichson in 1837. The genus occurs in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, with species documented in Europe and North America. Nearctic species have been subject to recent taxonomic revision, which expanded known distributions and clarified species boundaries through examination of external and genital morphology.
Silusa densa
Silusa densa is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. Originally described from California in 1909, the species was later documented in Alberta, Canada, representing a significant range expansion and first Canadian record. As a member of the genus Silusa, it belongs to a group of small, often overlooked beetles that are part of the diverse rove beetle fauna of North America.
Silusida marginella
Silusida marginella is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. First described by Casey in 1893 under the name Bolitochara marginella, this species is known from scattered records across eastern North America. Like other members of its tribe Homalotini, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats. The genus Silusida is small and poorly documented in popular literature.
Stethusa
Stethusa is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Casey in 1910 and is currently classified within the tribe Athetini. Members of this genus are part of the diverse aleocharine fauna of North America. Very few observations of this genus exist in biodiversity databases, suggesting either genuine rarity or undercollection.
Stethusa spuriella
Stethusa spuriella is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1910. It belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae, the largest subfamily of rove beetles, which are characterized by their reduced elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The species has been recorded across eastern North America from Canada to the southeastern United States.