Leaf-litter-fauna
Guides
Campsomerini
mammoth wasps
Campsomerini is a cosmopolitan tribe within the family Scoliidae (Hymenoptera), currently classified under subfamily Scoliinae. Members are commonly known as mammoth wasps. The tribe's higher-level taxonomy has been unstable, having been treated historically as subfamily Campsomerinae before being demoted to tribal status. Recent phylogenetic studies using ultraconserved element (UCE) data support Campsomerini sensu stricto (excluding Colpa and allies) as monophyletic, with the Australasian genus Trisciloa as sister to remaining members.
Carebara longii
Carebara longii is a species of minute myrmicine ant in the genus Carebara, one of the smallest ant genera globally. Workers are barely visible to the naked eye and are typically collected by sifting leaf litter and examining extracts under a microscope. The species was described by Wheeler in 1903. Like other Carebara species, it likely inhabits leaf litter in tropical and subtropical environments, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Catalinus
Catalinus is a genus of minute rove beetles (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae) established by Casey in 1897. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini, a group of small beetles often associated with forest floor habitats and microhabitats such as leaf litter and decaying wood. The genus is poorly documented in public sources, with only three observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Cephennodes
Cephennodes is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, tribe Cephenniini. First recorded in South Africa in 2013 with four new species described from KwaZulu-Natal Province. The genus has a broader distribution across the continental Afrotropical region. Members of this genus are small, compact beetles adapted to microhabitats such as leaf litter and soil.
Ceratocombus vagans
litter bug
Ceratocombus vagans is a species of minute true bug in the family Ceratocombidae, commonly known as litter bugs. The species has been described as one of the most generalized members of Hemiptera: Heteroptera, with predatory feeding habits that support the hypothesis that primitive heteropterans were predaceous. It occupies a wide geographic range across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Conoplectus canaliculatus
Conoplectus canaliculatus is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, specifically within the subfamily Pselaphinae. It is one of many species commonly referred to as "ant-loving beetles" due to their ecological association with ant colonies. The species was first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849 and has a broad distribution across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada and much of the eastern and central United States.
Corinnidae
corinnid sac spiders, ground and ant-mimic sac spiders
Corinnidae is a family of araneomorph spiders comprising over 800 species in 71+ genera worldwide. Formerly part of the catch-all family Clubionidae, the group was redefined in 2014 to include only subfamilies Corinninae and Castianeirinae. Members are wandering predators that construct silken sac retreats, with many genera exhibiting ant-mimicry as a defensive strategy. The family includes notable ant-mimicking genera such as Castianeira, Myrmecotypus, Mazax, and Myrmecium.
Crypticini
Crypticini is a tribe of darkling beetles within the subfamily Diaperinae, family Tenebrionidae. The tribe was established by Brullé in 1832 and contains multiple genera distributed across various regions. Members are small to medium-sized beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats. The tribe is taxonomically stable and widely recorded in beetle fauna surveys.
Ctenistini
ant-loving beetles
Ctenistini is a tribe of minute ant-loving beetles in the rove beetle family Staphylinidae, specifically within the subfamily Pselaphinae. The tribe was established by Blanchard in 1845 with Ctenistes as the type genus. It comprises at least five genera and approximately six described species, though the group remains poorly studied.
Cylindrarctus crinifer
Cylindrarctus crinifer is a small ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and central United States. Like other members of the tribe Tychini, it is associated with ant colonies. Published information on its biology remains limited.
Entiminae
Broad-nosed Weevils, Broad-nosed Weevil, Short-nosed Weevils
Entiminae is a large subfamily of weevils (Curculionidae) containing over 12,000 described species in more than 1,370 genera. Members are commonly known as broad-nosed or short-nosed weevils due to their characteristically broad, short rostrum. The subfamily exhibits exceptional diversity in size, form, and coloration, with many species displaying metallic or iridescent scales. While most species are polyphagous and feed on a broad range of plants, relatively few are major economic pests. The current tribal classification includes 55 recognized tribes, though this system is considered artificial rather than reflecting natural evolutionary relationships.
Erigoninae
dwarf spiders, money spiders
Erigoninae is the largest subfamily of Linyphiidae (sheet-web weavers), itself the second largest spider family. These minute spiders are commonly called dwarf spiders in the United States and money spiders in England. The subfamily contains over 2,000 described species, making it the most numerous group within the sheet-web weavers. Many species inhabit leaf litter and construct small sheet webs, while others occupy diverse terrestrial habitats from coastal dunes to alpine timberlines.
Euconnus montanus
Euconnus montanus is a species of minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae. The species was described in 2021 by Stephan & O'Keefe. Scydmaenine beetles are commonly known as ant-like stone beetles due to their small size and compact body form. Members of the genus Euconnus are among the smallest beetles, typically measuring less than 2 mm in length.
Euplectus acomanus
Euplectus acomanus is a minute rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) described by Casey in 1908. It belongs to the tribe Euplectini, a group of small, often myrmecophilous beetles characterized by compact bodies and reduced elytra. The species has been recorded across eastern North America and the southwestern United States, with scattered Canadian occurrences. Like other pselaphines, it likely inhabits moist leaf litter and soil microhabitats.
Euplectus duryi
ant-loving beetle
Euplectus duryi is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, specifically within the subfamily Pselaphinae—a group commonly known as ant-loving beetles. The species was described by Thomas L. Casey in 1908. It occurs across much of North America, with records spanning from Canada (British Columbia to Quebec and the Maritimes) throughout the United States from the Atlantic seaboard west to Arizona and Colorado. Like other pselaphines, it is typically found in leaf litter and soil habitats where it associates with ant colonies.
Faronitae
Faronitae is a supertribe of small rove beetles (Pselaphinae: Staphylinidae) comprising 29 genera worldwide. The group is particularly diverse in Australia and New Zealand, where 13 genera occur. Recent taxonomic work has described multiple new genera from these regions, including Porongurup from Western Australia, Pseudostenosagola from New Zealand, and Australosagola from southern Australia. Members are characterized by reduced body size and specialized morphological features associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.
Glandulariini
Glandulariini is a tribe of minute rove beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae. Members are characterized by complex glandular structures on the abdomen, from which the tribe derives its name. These beetles are among the smallest staphylinids, often measuring less than 2 mm in length. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions.
Hamotus opimus
Hamotus opimus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Fletcher in 1932. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and south-central United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely lives in close association with ants, though specific details of this relationship remain poorly documented.
Lachnocrepis
Lachnocrepis is a subgenus of ground beetles within the genus Oodes (family Carabidae), established by LeConte in 1853. It was historically treated as a full genus but was downgraded to subgenus status within Oodes based on morphological character analysis. The subgenus currently contains two recognized species: Oodes (Lachnocrepis) desertus and Oodes (Lachnocrepis) japonicus. These species occur in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions, including China and Taiwan. Members of this subgenus share high morphological similarity with other Oodini, contributing to historical taxonomic confusion.
Litochropus
Litochropus is a genus of small beetles in the family Phalacridae, established by Casey in 1890. Members of this genus are among the least studied phalacrid beetles, with very few documented observations. The genus is characterized by minute body size and association with fungal habitats. As with other phalacrids, these beetles likely inhabit decaying plant matter and fungal fruiting bodies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Lucifotychus
Lucifotychus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, tribe Tychini. It contains approximately 19 described species. The genus was established by Park and Wagner in 1962. These beetles belong to a group of small, often cryptic beetles that inhabit forest floor environments.
Moriuss occidens
Moriuss occidens is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini and is one of very few species in the genus Moriuss. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and is known from California. Pselaphine beetles are generally small, cryptic, and associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.
Mysmenidae
dwarf cobweb weavers
Mysmenidae is a family of minute spiders comprising approximately 135-188 described species across 13-17 genera. Members are among the smallest known spiders, ranging from 0.75 to 3 mm in body length. The family is one of the least studied groups of orb-weaving spiders due to their diminutive size and cryptic habits. Many species exhibit kleptoparasitic behavior, inhabiting the webs of other spiders to steal prey.
Nanosella
Nanosella is a genus of featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae) described by Motschulsky in 1869. Members of this genus are among the smallest known beetles, with body lengths often measuring less than 1 mm. The genus belongs to the tribe Nanosellini, which contains some of the most miniaturized insects in the world. These beetles inhabit decaying organic matter where they feed on fungal spores and hyphae.
Oonopidae
Goblin spiders
Oonopidae, commonly known as goblin spiders, is a diverse family of minute spiders comprising approximately 2,000 described species across 115 genera worldwide, with total species diversity estimated at 2,000–2,500. These spiders are characterized by their tiny size (typically 1–3 mm), reduced eye number (usually six, though some species have four, two, or are completely eyeless), and frequently exhibit unusual morphological modifications in males. The family shows remarkable morphological diversity including hardened abdominal plates (scuta), modified mouthparts, sternal pouches, and elaborate pedipalp structures. Goblin spiders are predominantly ground-dwelling, inhabiting leaf litter, soil, and rock crevices, with some lineages adapted to canopy habitats, caves, or termite nests. The family has an extensive fossil record in amber deposits dating back over 100 million years, with Orchestina already widespread by the end of the Cretaceous.
Opopaea
goblin spiders
Opopaea is a large genus of minute goblin spiders in the family Oonopidae, containing approximately 180-190 accepted species. These spiders are characterized by their extremely small size (under 2 mm), six-eyed arrangement, and reddish-brown coloration. The genus is one of the most species-rich within the Oonopidae family, with representatives found across multiple continents including Australia and Sri Lanka. Species in this genus inhabit leaf litter and forest floor habitats, where their diminutive size and cryptic coloration make them difficult to detect.
Orthoperus
minute hooded beetles
Orthoperus is a genus of minute hooded beetles in the family Corylophidae, established by Stephens in 1829. The genus contains more than 20 described species, with at least 28 species currently recognized. Members are characterized by their extremely small body size and the distinctive hood-like pronotal structure that partially covers the head. These beetles belong to the tribe Orthoperini within the subfamily Corylophinae. They have been recorded from Europe and North America.
Osoriinae
Osoriinae is a subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing over 100 genera organized into multiple tribes. The subfamily is predominantly tropical and subtropical in distribution, with species occurring in leaf litter, under bark, in ant nests, and in tree canopies. Many species exhibit flattened body forms adapted for moving through confined spaces.
Pselaphinae
Ant-loving Beetles, Short-winged Mould Beetles
Pselaphinae is a species-rich subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing approximately 9,000 to 10,000 described species. They are among the most diverse and abundant beetles in tropical and temperate forest leaf litter worldwide. The group was historically treated as a separate family Pselaphidae but was reclassified into Staphylinidae by Newton and Thayer (1995) based on shared morphological characters with the Omaliine group. Many species exhibit myrmecophilous associations with ants, and some groups such as Clavigeritae are obligate inquilines with extreme morphological specializations.
Pseudopsinae
Pseudopsinae is a small subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing four extant genera—Pseudopsis, Nanobius, Asemobius, and Zalobius—with approximately 55 species. The subfamily is distinguished by longitudinal carinae on the head, pronotum, and elytra, and a fine stridulatory file on the genital segment. Fossil records extend to the Lower Cretaceous (~125 Ma), indicating an ancient origin. Members inhabit moist microhabitats including forest leaf litter, fungi, and riparian moss.
Sebaga ocampi
Sebaga ocampi is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Orlando Park in 1945. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of minute beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The species is known from limited records in the south-central United States and Mexico.
Stenichnus scutellaris
Stenichnus scutellaris is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, native to Europe and parts of western Asia. The species has been introduced to North America, with established populations recorded in Ontario, Canada. As a member of the genus Stenichnus, it belongs to a group of minute beetles typically found in leaf litter and other decaying organic matter.
Strumigenys
Mustache and Pygmy Snapping Ants
Strumigenys is a hyperdiverse genus of small predatory ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, comprising over 880 species. Members are characterized by specialized mandible morphology ranging from gripping to trap-jaw mechanisms, and cryptic lifestyles primarily in leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus exhibits remarkable diversity in nesting strategies, including solitary nesting, xenobiosis, and social parasitism. Several species reproduce via thelytokous parthenogenesis, a rare trait among ants that facilitates colonization of new environments.
Tachydromia
Tachydromia is a cosmopolitan genus of minute, predatory hybotid flies (Diptera: Hybotidae) with approximately 17 described species in the Nearctic region and numerous species globally, though with reduced diversity in East and Southeast Asia and Africa. The genus includes both fully winged species and a distinct complex of flightless, ant-like species found in western Mediterranean forests. Adults are active predators in leaf litter and ground layer habitats. Some Iberian endemic flightless species are of conservation concern due to habitat fragmentation and climate change.
Tapinocyba
sheet weavers
Tapinocyba is a genus of sheet web spiders (family Linyphiidae) established by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884. The genus comprises approximately 40 species distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, including Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. Species are primarily found in leaf litter and forest floor habitats, often at montane elevations. Recent taxonomic work has clarified species boundaries and described new species from previously undersampled regions such as China and Nepal.
Trichoniscus
pygmy woodlice
Trichoniscus is a genus of small terrestrial isopods (woodlice) containing over 100 species. The genus is notable for including species with both sexual and parthenogenetic reproductive modes, most prominently exemplified by Trichoniscus pusillus, which exists as diploid sexual and triploid asexual forms. These isopods are among the smallest woodlice, typically only a few millimeters in length, and are significant study organisms for research on the evolutionary maintenance of sexual reproduction.
Trimioplectus
ant-loving beetles
Trimioplectus is a genus of minute ant-loving beetles in the rove beetle family Staphylinidae, specifically within the subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was established by Brendel in 1890 and contains at least three described species distributed across North America and Australia. These beetles are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants. Members of this genus are rarely collected and poorly known biologically.
Trogastrina
Trogastrina is a subtribe of minute rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. These beetles belong to the tribe Trogastrini and are characterized by their small body size and association with leaf litter and soil habitats. The subtribe was established by Brendel and Wickham in 1890. Members of this group are part of the diverse Euplectitae clade, one of the most species-rich lineages within Pselaphinae.
Tyrina
Tyrina is a subtribe of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) within the subfamily Pselaphinae. It was established by Reitter in 1882 and contains approximately 35 described genera distributed primarily across tropical and subtropical regions, with notable diversity in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. Members of this subtribe are small, often myrmecophilous beetles that inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats. The subtribe is part of the tribe Tyrini, one of the major lineages of the hyperdiverse ant-loving beetle subfamily Pselaphinae.