Microarthropod-predators
Guides
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.