Defensive-glands
Guides
Oxytelinae
Spiny-legged Rove Beetles
Oxytelinae is a subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) comprising approximately 20 genera and at least 320 described species. Members possess a unique pair of defensive glands that open onto the ninth tergum. They are commonly found in moist habitats including streamside moss, leaf litter, beaches, and dung. The subfamily is distributed worldwide with notable diversity in the Nearctic (17 genera, 262 species in North America) and Palearctic regions.