Pselaphinae
Guides
Abdiunguis
Abdiunguis is a genus of minute rove beetles (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae) established in 1962. As a member of the tribe Trichonychini, it belongs to a diverse group of small beetles that inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats. The genus contains species with reduced elytra and compact body forms characteristic of pselaphine beetles.
Actiastes
Actiastes is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1897. The genus contains nine described species distributed across North America. Members belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies.
Actiastes fundatum
Actiastes fundatum is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Grigarick & Schuster in 1971. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group of small rove beetles known for their myrmecophilous associations. The species is documented from North America. Very few observations exist, with only two records in iNaturalist.
Actium
Actium is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, first described by Casey in 1886. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini, a group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus is part of the diverse Pselaphinae, which are characterized by reduced wing venation and compact body forms adapted for life in confined spaces.
Adranes
ant-loving beetles
Adranes is a genus of obligately myrmecophilous beetles in the rove beetle family Staphylinidae. These small beetles are entirely dependent on ants of the genus Lasius, living as inquilines within their nests. The six described species share extreme morphological adaptations for this lifestyle, including complete eyelessness, reduced mouthparts, and highly modified antennae. They are known from North America, with species distributed across the United States and Pacific coast regions.
Adranes coecus
Adranes coecus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is known from eastern North America. The species belongs to the tribe Clavigerini, whose members are obligate myrmecophiles, living in close association with ant colonies.
Adranes dietzii
Adranes dietzii is a minute rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, described by Schaeffer in 1906. The species belongs to the tribe Clavigerini, a group known for myrmecophilous (ant-associated) habits. It has been recorded from California, USA. Like other members of its tribe, it likely exhibits specialized morphological adaptations for life with ants.
Adranes lecontei
LeConte's Ant-loving Rove Beetle
Adranes lecontei is a species of ant-loving rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is an obligate myrmecophile, meaning it lives in association with ants. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States.
Adranes taylori
Taylor's Ant-loving Rove Beetle
Adranes taylori is a species of myrmecophilous rove beetle in the tribe Clavigerini, described by Wickham in 1901. Members of this genus are obligate associates of ants, possessing specialized morphological adaptations for life within ant colonies. The species occurs in western North America from British Columbia to California.
Allotrimium
Allotrimium is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, described by Orlando Park in 1943. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini within the diverse and speciose Pselaphinae, a group characterized by reduced elytra and complex antennal structures. Members of this genus are small, cryptic beetles associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. No observations or species-level documentation are currently available in major biodiversity databases.
Anchylarthron caviceps
Anchylarthron caviceps is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr. in 1897. The species belongs to the tribe Brachyglutini within the supertribe Goniaceritae. It is known from the southeastern United States.
Arianops gigantea
Arianops gigantea is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Barr in 1974. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The specific epithet "gigantea" suggests relatively large size compared to congeners, though absolute dimensions remain undocumented in available sources. The species is currently known from taxonomic catalogues with no verified observations in major biodiversity databases.
Arianops nantahalae
Arianops nantahalae is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, described by Barr in 1974. The species is endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. It belongs to a genus of minute beetles adapted to life in forest leaf litter and soil microhabitats.
Arianops norithe
Arianops norithe is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described by Barr in 1974 and is known from North Carolina, USA. The genus Arianops is part of the tribe Amauropini, a group of small beetles associated with ant colonies.
Arianops unicoi
Arianops unicoi is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Barr in 1974. The specific epithet 'unicoi' references the Unicoi Mountains, part of the southern Appalachian range in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. As a member of the subfamily Pselaphinae, it belongs to a diverse group of small rove beetles typically associated with forest floor habitats. The species is known from a restricted geographic range in the southeastern United States.
Arthmius
Arthmius is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as ant-loving beetles. The genus contains nine described species distributed in North America. Members of this genus are associated with ant colonies, a characteristic trait of many Pselaphinae. The genus was established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849.
Arthmius bulbifer
Arthmius bulbifer is a species of ant-loving beetle in the rove beetle family Staphylinidae, described by Thomas L. Casey in 1893. The species belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group of small beetles commonly associated with ant colonies. It is known from scattered records across the south-central United States.
Arthmius globicollis
ant-loving beetle
Arthmius globicollis is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is known from North America, with records from the eastern and central United States. The species belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles frequently associated with ant colonies.
Arthmius morsus
ant-loving beetle
Arthmius morsus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Fletcher in 1932. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group characterized by small size and association with ant colonies. The species is documented from Arizona, USA. Like other members of the tribe Batrisini, it is presumed to inhabit ant nests, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Atinus
ant-loving beetles
Atinus is a genus of myrmecophilous (ant-loving) rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was established by Horn in 1868 and contains at least two described species: Atinus brevicornis and Atinus monilicornis. These beetles are small, compact rove beetles associated with ant colonies.
Batriasymmodes
Batriasymmodes is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, described by Orlando Park in 1951. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Batrisini, a diverse group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse Pselaphinae, one of the most species-rich subfamilies of Staphylinidae, though individual species remain poorly documented in public databases. Observations of this genus are extremely sparse, with only five records in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Batrisodes
gargoyle beetle, ant-loving beetle
Batrisodes is a genus of myrmecophilous rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus contains at least 80 described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Males of many species exhibit highly modified facial structures with horns, spines, shelves, or cavities, earning the group the informal name 'gargoyle beetles.' Species are primarily associated with ants, though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented for most taxa.
Batrisodes albionicus
Batrisodes albionicus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It is distributed in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. As a member of the genus Batrisodes, it is likely associated with leaf litter habitats and ant colonies, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Batrisodes beyeri
ant-loving beetle
Batrisodes beyeri is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It was described by Schaeffer in 1906 and is found in North America. The species belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies.
Batrisodes denticollis
Batrisodes denticollis is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It is known from scattered localities across the eastern and central United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to inhabit leaf litter and may associate with ants. The species was described by Casey in 1884.
Batrisodes riparius
Batrisodes riparius is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly known as short-winged mould beetles. It was described by Thomas Say in 1824, making it one of the earlier described species in the genus. Males of this species, like other Batrisodes, possess distinctive facial modifications including horns, spines, or other projections that give the genus its informal nickname "gargoyle beetles." The species occurs across eastern North America in leaf litter habitats.
Batrisodes scabriceps
gargoyle beetle
Batrisodes scabriceps is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly known as the short-winged mould beetles. Males of this species exhibit pronounced facial modifications including horns, spines, or other projections that give the genus its informal name 'gargoyle beetles.' The species was originally described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849 and occurs across eastern and central North America. Like other members of Batrisodes, it is presumed to inhabit leaf litter and prey on microarthropods.
Batrisodes schaumii
Gargoyle beetle
Batrisodes schaumii is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as a "gargoyle beetle" due to the distinctive facial ornamentation of males. The species was described by Aubé in 1844 and occurs across a broad range in the eastern and central United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to inhabit leaf litter and prey on small arthropods such as mites and collembola.
Batrisodes striatus
Batrisodes striatus is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It belongs to a diverse genus of minute beetles that inhabit leaf litter and soil environments. The species was originally described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849 and is distributed across eastern and central North America.
Batrisodes texanus
Coffin Cave mold beetle, Inner Space Caverns mold beetle
Batrisodes texanus is a minute troglobitic beetle endemic to caves in Williamson County, Texas. This eyeless species measures only 2.60–2.88 mm and inhabits the unique microenvironment of cave systems, where it feeds on organic matter such as mold and detritus. The species is federally listed as endangered due to its extremely restricted range and vulnerability to habitat disturbance. It belongs to the diverse rove beetle family Staphylinidae, specifically the subfamily Pselaphinae, which contains many cave-adapted species.
Batrisodes venyivi
Helotes Mold Beetle
Batrisodes venyivi, commonly known as the Helotes Mold Beetle, is a small, eyeless troglobitic beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is endemic to eight caves in Bexar County, Texas, and was listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2000. The species exhibits classic cave-adapted traits including elongated antennae, legs, and sensory setae. Very little is known about its behavior, population trends, or life history due to the logistical challenges of accessing its subterranean habitat.
Bibloplectus
ant-loving beetles
Bibloplectus is a genus of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) commonly known as ant-loving beetles. The genus contains at least 10 described species distributed in North America and Europe. Seven new species were recently described from the eastern United States based on specimens from museum collections. Members of this genus are typically associated with ants and are characterized by their small size and reduced morphology.
Bibloporus bicanalis
Bibloporus bicanalis is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, characterized by reduced elytra and a compact body form typical of ant-loving beetles. The species was described by Casey in 1884 and occurs in eastern North America. As a member of the tribe Trichonychini, it belongs to a diverse group of myrmecophilous beetles that have evolved specialized associations with ants. Records indicate presence in both Canada and the United States, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Brachygluta
ant-loving beetles
Brachygluta is a genus of ant-loving beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) containing over 80 described species. These small rove beetles are specialist predators of mites. The Nearctic fauna has been revised, with 29 species recognized in North America.
Brachygluta abdominalis
ant-loving beetle
Brachygluta abdominalis is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States. This species inhabits coastal ecosystems, specifically occurring in leaf litter of salt marshes, beaches, and other shoreline environments. The species has a problematic taxonomic history due to a missing type specimen, and its identity has been discussed but not fully resolved in recent revisions.
Brachygluta terebrata
Brachygluta terebrata is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as ant-loving beetles. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and occurs in northeastern and midwestern North America. It was previously confused with B. intricata, which is now treated as a junior synonym. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with ant colonies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Brachygluta ulkei
Brachygluta ulkei is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of minute beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The species was described by Brendel in 1866 and occurs in the eastern United States. Like other pselaphines, it is likely a predator or scavenger in microarthropod communities, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Brachygluta wickhami
Brachygluta wickhami is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described as a new species by Bückle in 2015 as part of a comprehensive revision of North American Brachygluta. The species is one of twelve new Brachygluta species described in that monograph. Like other members of this genus, it is a small, presumably litter-dwelling beetle with reduced elytra typical of the subfamily Pselaphinae.
Brachyglutini
Brachyglutini is a tribe of rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae (family Staphylinidae). These beetles are minute, typically measuring 1–2 mm in length, and exhibit the characteristic compact body form and reduced elytra typical of pselaphine rove beetles. The tribe was established by Raffray in 1904 and contains numerous genera distributed across multiple continents. Members of this tribe are primarily found in forest litter and soil habitats where they function as micro-predators or scavengers.
Caccoplectus
Caccoplectus is a genus of myrmecophilous (ant-loving) rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was established by Sharp in 1887 and contains approximately nine described species. These beetles are associated with ant colonies, a common ecological strategy among pselaphine beetles. Most species have been described from the Neotropical region, particularly Central America.
myrmecophileant-associatedpselaphinerove-beetleNeotropicalStaphylinidaePselaphinaeArhytodinitropicalant-colony-inhabitantinquilinemicrohabitat-specialistleaf-littersoil-dwellingcrypticrarely-collectedsmall-beetlemorphologically-specialized1887-descriptionSharpCentral-AmericaPanamaColeopteraPolyphagaStaphyliniformiaStaphylinoideaPselaphitaegenus-levelnine-speciesconicusdegallierilucidusnuttingipectinatusschwarzisentisspinipessucineasspine-legged-pselaphidChandlerWoldaSchaeffer190619761986type-species-unknownrarely-observediNaturalist:-2-observationsCatalogue-of-Life-acceptedGBIF-acceptedNCBI-acceptedEukaryotaMetazoaHexapodaInsectaArthropodaAnimaliabeetleinsectarthropodanimalCedius
Cedius is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849. The genus contains at least three described species: C. cruralis, C. spinosus, and C. ziegleri. Members belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group of small rove beetles frequently associated with ant colonies. The genus is rarely encountered, with minimal observational records available.
Ceophyllus
Ceophyllus is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by LeConte in 1849. The genus contains a single described species, C. monilis. These beetles belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies.
Conoplectus
Conoplectus is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Brendel in 1888. The genus contains five described species, all described or redescribed by Carlton in 1983 except for C. canaliculatus, which was originally described by LeConte in 1849. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles commonly associated with ants and other social insects.
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.
Conoplectus susae
Conoplectus susae is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Carlton in 1983. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies. The species is known from limited records in the south-central United States.
Ctenisis
Ctenisis is a genus of myrmecophilous rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was established by Raffray in 1890 and contains at least two described species: C. raffrayi (Casey, 1894) and C. phylanderi (Chandler, 2003). Members of this genus are classified within the tribe Ctenistini and are known for their association with ant colonies.
Ctenisodes
Ctenisodes is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Raffray in 1897. The genus belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles commonly associated with ant colonies. Approximately 14 species have been described. These beetles are part of the tribe Ctenistini within the supertribe Pselaphitae.
Ctenisodes abruptus
Ctenisodes abruptus is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group of small, often ant-associated beetles. The species was described by Casey in 1893. It belongs to the tribe Ctenistini, characterized by specialized morphological adaptations. Records indicate presence in Arizona, USA.
Ctenisodes piceus
ant-loving beetle
Ctenisodes piceus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by LeConte in 1849. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group of small rove beetles commonly associated with ant colonies. The species occurs in northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States.
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.