Rove-beetles
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.
Achenomorphus
Achenomorphus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae. The genus was established by Motschulsky in 1858 and contains multiple described species distributed across various regions. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles with the characteristic short elytra and elongated body form typical of rove beetles. The genus is classified within the tribe Lathrobiini and subtribe Medonina.
Acidota
A genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini) established in 1829. Species occur across the Holarctic region, with documented presence in Eurasia and North America. The genus includes at least 10 described species, with recent taxonomic work clarifying species boundaries and geographic distributions in Russia and China.
Acrotona
Acrotona is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Thomson in 1859. The genus contains at least 30 described species. Recent taxonomic work has identified new species, including Acrotona brachyoptera from New Brunswick, Canada. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Aleocharinae, a diverse group within the rove beetles.
Acruliopsis
Acruliopsis is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. The genus contains approximately five described species distributed across East Asia and western North America. Species have been recorded from Japan, the Russian Far East, Korea, and the Pacific Northwest of North America. The genus was established by Zerche in 2003.
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.
Acylophorina
Acylophorina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the tribe Staphylinini. The subtribe contains the genus Acylophorus, which includes species distributed in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. Members of this subtribe are characterized by specific morphological traits that distinguish them from related staphylinine beetles.
Acylophorus
Acylophorus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Staphylinini, subtribe Acylophorina. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with documented species across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, and northern Europe. Taxonomic revisions have established numerous species synonymies and described multiple new species from African and insular populations. The genus is characterized by morphological features including distinctive forebody structure, maxillary palpi, antennae, and aedeagus morphology used in species-level identification.
Aleocharinae
rove beetles
Aleocharinae is the largest subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae), containing over 12,000 described species across more than 1,000 genera and 52 tribes. Members are predominantly small to minute beetles, typically 3–5 mm in length, with highly variable morphology reflecting their diverse ecological specializations. The subfamily exhibits extraordinary biological diversity, including free-living, myrmecophilous, termitophilous, parasitic, predatory, fungivorous, and herbivorous forms distributed across all terrestrial habitats worldwide.
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.
Alisalia
Alisalia is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) containing 10 described species. The genus was established by Casey in 1911 and is classified within the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Oxypodini, and subtribe Meoticina. Species are distributed across North America, with most described from the early 20th century and two added in 2009.
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.
Aloconota
Aloconota is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the tribe Geostibini, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Carl Gustaf Thomson in 1858. It has a cosmopolitan distribution with records from Europe, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Six species are currently recognized: A. currax, A. debilicornis, A. gregaria, A. insecta, A. planifrons, and A. sulcifrons.
Amarochara
A genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Oxypodini) established by C.G. Thomson in 1858. The genus comprises approximately 25 valid species distributed across the Holarctic region, with the majority described or redescribed in a comprehensive 2002 revision. Holarctic species are organized into five species groups based on phylogenetic analysis, replacing the previous subgeneric classification system.
Amblyopinina
Amblyopinina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) distinguished by a specialized mutualistic relationship with mammals. These beetles inhabit the fur of mammal hosts, where they likely feed on ectoparasites. This interaction has been described as functionally analogous to the relationship between oxpecker birds and large mammals.
Amphichroum
Amphichroum is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Omaliinae and tribe Anthophagini, established by Kraatz in 1857. The genus comprises approximately 32 described species distributed across montane regions of Asia, with significant diversity in the Himalayan region, Tibet, and southwestern China. Recent taxonomic revisions have added numerous species from China, particularly from Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Species are primarily known from high-elevation mountain localities.
Anaquedius
Anaquedius is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Staphylinini, established by Thomas L. Casey in 1915. It belongs to the subtribe Acylophorina. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and literature, with limited published information on its species. Based on its tribal placement, members likely share characteristics with other Staphylinini, though specific diagnostic features remain poorly documented.
Anisolinina
Anisolinina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Hayashi in 1993. It belongs to the tribe Staphylinini within the subfamily Staphylininae. The subtribe contains multiple genera of small to medium-sized predatory beetles. Members of this group share derived morphological features that distinguish them from related subtribes within Staphylinini.
Anthophagini
Anthophagini is a tribe of ocellate rove beetles within the subfamily Omaliinae of Staphylinidae. The tribe contains at least 20 genera and 20 described species. Members are characterized by the presence of ocelli, distinguishing them from many other staphylinid groups. The tribe was established by C. G. Thomson in 1859.
Apalonia
Apalonia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1906. The genus contains at least 40 described species, placing it among the more species-rich genera within the aleocharine rove beetles. These beetles belong to the tribe Athetini, a large and diverse group characterized by small body size and complex morphological features. The genus has been documented in entomological collections, though detailed biological studies remain limited for most species.
Aploderus
Aploderus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Oxytelinae. First described by Stephens in 1833, it comprises small beetles with reduced eyes (microphthalmous) in several species. The genus is distributed across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia including Turkey and China. Several species have been described from subterranean or soil-associated habitats.
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.
Atanygnathus
Atanygnathus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Jakobson in 1909. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and includes at least three described species: A. bicolor, A. terminalis, and A. poussereaui. It belongs to the subtribe Tanygnathinina within the tribe Staphylinini. As with other staphylinid beetles, members of this genus are characterized by their shortened elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed.
Athetini
Athetini is a large tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) comprising at least 50 genera and 430 described species. The tribe is taxonomically complex, with ongoing research into its limits and internal relationships; it was not recovered as monophyletic in molecular phylogenetic studies. Multiple independent origins of coastal habitat specialization have been documented within the tribe.
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.
Autalia
Autalia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Leach in 1819. The genus belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae and is the type genus of the tribe Autaliini. Species are documented from Europe, Northern America, and the Neotropics. The genus includes at least four recognized species: Autalia impressa, A. longicornis, A. puncticollis, and A. rivularis.
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.
Belonuchus
Belonuchus is a genus of large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, comprising more than 30 described species. Members of this genus are found in the Americas, with records from Mexico and the southwestern United States. At least one species, B. cifuentesi, has been documented in association with Agave plants. The genus is characterized by features typical of the tribe Staphylinini within the subfamily Staphylininae.
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.
Bledius
spiny-legged rove beetles
Bledius is a genus of spiny-legged rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, containing at least 100 described species. Members of this genus are associated with coastal and riparian habitats, where they have been observed in intertidal zones and along shorelines. The genus was established by Leach in 1819 and is classified within the tribe Blediini of subfamily Oxytelinae. Species in this genus exhibit adaptations for life in wet, sandy environments.
Bolitocharina
Bolitocharina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the tribe Homalotini, subfamily Aleocharinae. It was established by Carl Gustaf Thomson in 1859. The subtribe contains multiple genera of small to minute beetles characterized by compact body forms and reduced elytra typical of the family. Members are found primarily in the Holarctic region, with some representation in other biogeographic zones.
Boreaphilus
Boreaphilus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by C.R. Sahlberg in 1832. The genus belongs to the subfamily Omaliinae and tribe Coryphiini. Species are distributed across northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, with records from Scandinavia, Russia, Japan, and northern North America. The genus includes at least two described species: B. albanicus and B. astur.
Boreostiba
Boreostiba is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, and tribe Athetini. It was described by Lohse in 1990 and is currently accepted as valid. The genus is known from northern Europe, with distribution records from Norway and Sweden. As a member of the Athetini, it belongs to a diverse tribe of small to medium-sized rove beetles commonly found in forest litter and other decaying organic matter.
Brachycepsis
Brachycepsis is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, established by Brendel in 1889. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini, a group characterized by small body size and specialized ecological associations. The genus is part of the diverse Staphylinidae family, one of the largest beetle families. Limited species-level information is available in public databases.
Bryoporus
Bryoporus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae: Bolitobiini) established by Kraatz in 1857. The genus has an almost cosmopolitan distribution with records from Europe, North America, and other regions. Taxonomic revisions have clarified its relationship to related genera Bryophacis, Bolitopunctus, and Neobolitobius, particularly for North American species. The genus includes multiple species, with Bryoporus cernuus (Gravenhorst, 1806) being a representative species.
Cafius
coastal rove beetles
Cafius is a genus of relatively large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, comprising approximately 8 described species in North America and approaching 50 globally. The genus originated in the early Miocene (ca. 17.91 Ma) along the coasts of Europe and Australia, with subsequent diversification driven by transoceanic dispersal via ocean surface currents. Species are obligate inhabitants of coastal marine environments, particularly sandy intertidal zones. The genus is notable for its global distribution across temperate and tropical coastlines and its biological adaptations to saline, dynamic shoreline habitats.
Calodera
Calodera is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1830. It contains at least seven described species and has a cosmopolitan distribution. Members belong to the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Oxypodini, and are characterized by the typical short elytra and flexible abdomen of staphylinid beetles.
Carpelimus
spiny-legged rove beetles
Carpelimus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) containing at least 100 described species. Members are commonly referred to as spiny-legged rove beetles. The genus has a broad distribution spanning the Palearctic, Oriental, and other regions, with recent records documenting range extensions in Southeast Asia and South Asia. At least one species, Carpelimus rivularis, has been documented as a host for phoretic mites (Pygmephoridae).
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.
Cedius
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.
Cephennium
Cephennium is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae, first described by Müller and Kunze in 1822. The genus is predominantly western European in distribution but has been recorded across Europe, Northern America, the Middle East, and as far east as Kyrgyzstan. Recent taxonomic work has revealed substantial undescribed diversity, particularly in Turkey where 25 named species are now recognized. The genus has been introduced to North America via port cities, with C. gallicum documented from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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.
Clavigeritae
Clavigeritae is a supertribe of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) comprising approximately 370 described species. These beetles are obligate myrmecophiles, living socially parasitic lives within ant colonies. The group exhibits extreme morphological specialization for this lifestyle, including body segment fusions and unique glandular structures. The 52-million-year-old fossil Protoclaviger trichodens from India represents the oldest known myrmecophilous beetle and reveals transitional features between ancestral and modern forms.
Colusa
Colusa is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, established by Thomas L. Casey in 1885. The genus belongs to the tribe Oxypodini and is part of the diverse and species-rich rove beetle family, which is characterized by abbreviated elytra that expose most of the abdomen. Little is known about the biology or species diversity of this genus.
Coproporus
Coproporus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae, tribe Vatesini. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with records from North America, Europe, and South America. Taxonomic revision has clarified confused generic usage and resolved synonymies, particularly distinguishing Coproporus from the related genus Cilea. Nine species occur in North America north of Mexico, with additional species documented from Mexico, Panama, Argentina, and Brazil.
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.
Custotychus
Custotychus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, tribe Tychini. The genus was established by Park and Wagner in 1962. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with forest floor habitats. The genus is rarely encountered, with only four observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the source data.
Cylindrarctus
ant-loving beetles
Cylindrarctus is a genus of rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly known as ant-loving beetles. The genus contains approximately 10 described species, most of which were described by American entomologist Donald S. Chandler in 1988. Members of this genus are small, specialized beetles associated with ant colonies. The genus was established by Schaufuss in 1887.
Cypha
Cypha is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Leach in 1819. The genus contains multiple described species and has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. As members of the subfamily Aleocharinae and tribe Hypocyphtini, these beetles are part of one of the most species-rich lineages of rove beetles. The genus is distinguished from related taxa by specific morphological characters of the mouthparts and genitalia.