Ant-associates
Guides
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.
Cremastocheilini
Predatory Chafers
Cremastocheilini is a tribe of scarab beetles within the subfamily Cetoniinae, comprising approximately 50 genera. Members of this tribe are commonly known as "Predatory Chafers." Many species are known to associate with ants, living within their nests. The tribe was established by Burmeister and Schaum in 1841.
Euxestidae
Euxestidae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea, containing approximately 70 extant species across 10 genera. Formerly treated as a subfamily of Cerylonidae, they were elevated to family status based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Members are primarily tropical and subtropical in distribution, with most species occurring in the Afro-Eurasian region. They inhabit concealed microhabitats including decomposing wood, leaf litter, and the nests of social insects.
Geomysaprinus
clown beetles
Geomysaprinus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, established by Ross in 1940. The genus contains at least 20 described species, distributed primarily in North America. Members are small, compact beetles typical of the Saprininae subfamily. The genus name reflects an association with Geomyidae (pocket gophers), suggesting possible commensal or symbiotic relationships with mammal burrows.
Myrmecophilus
ant crickets
Myrmecophilus is a genus of minute crickets commonly known as ant crickets, containing the majority of species in the family Myrmecophilidae. These insects are obligate myrmecophiles, living exclusively within ant colonies. Species vary in size from less than 1.5 mm to 4.7 mm, generally correlating with the body size of their host ant species. The genus has a worldwide distribution with numerous described species across Europe, Asia, North America, and other regions.
Sceptobiini
Sceptobiini is a small tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) comprising two genera and five described species. All species are obligate myrmecophiles, living symbiotically within ant nests. The tribe exhibits distinct behavioral divergence between its two clades: Dinardilla species actively interact with host ants, while Sceptobius species occupy more peripheral positions in nests.
Uropodina
Uropodina is an infraorder of mites in the order Mesostigmata, characterized by morphologically variable forms with fused sternal and ventral shields, short legs with reduced setae, and stigmata positioned between the second and third leg pairs. Most species inhabit soil, forest litter, and decaying organic matter, where they function primarily as predators of small invertebrates. Many species exhibit phoresy during the deutonymph stage, attaching to insects and other arthropods for dispersal using a secreted elastic pedicel. Reproduction is predominantly sexual, though parthenogenesis occurs in some species with males rare or absent.