Rove-beetles
Guides
Lispinus
Lispinus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Osoriinae) established by Erichson in 1839. Species occur primarily in the Neotropics, with documented diversity in premontane forests of the eastern Peruvian Andes. The genus comprises at least 21 species in Peru alone, distributed across six zoogeographic patterns ranging from endemic to Pan-Neotropical.
Lissagria
Lissagria is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1906. It belongs to the tribe Falagriini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus contains approximately eight described species, primarily named by Casey and other early 20th-century coleopterists.
Lissohypnus
Lissohypnus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Xantholinini, established by Casey in 1906. The genus belongs to the subfamily Staphylininae, one of the largest subfamilies of rove beetles. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases, suggesting it is either rare, poorly sampled, or taxonomically cryptic.
Lithocharis
Lithocharis is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae, tribe Lathrobiini. The genus was established by Dejean in 1833. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized predatory beetles characterized by the typical rove beetle body plan: short elytra exposing most of the flexible abdomen. The genus is primarily distributed in the Holarctic region, with documented occurrences in northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Lomechusini
Lomechusini is a tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The tribe contains approximately 202 genera organized into two subtribes: Lomechusina and Myrmedoniina, plus several genera of uncertain placement. It includes the relatively large genus Zyras, though most genera are small. Members are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants.
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.
Mayetia
Mayetia is a genus of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) in the tribe Mayetiini. The genus includes at least three macropterous and macrophthalmic species, a rare wing and eye configuration in this predominantly wing-reduced group. Mayetia atlantica, described from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, represents the first Brazilian record of the tribe and the southernmost occurrence of the genus in the New World. Most species in the genus remain poorly known, with limited biological data available.
Medonina
Medonina is a subtribe of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) established by Casey in 1905. As of 2024, it encompasses 49 genera distributed across multiple continents. The subtribe belongs to the tribe Lathrobiini within the subfamily Paederinae. Members are small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in leaf litter, soil, and other decaying organic matter.
Megarafonus
ant-loving beetles
Megarafonus is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Casey in 1897. The genus contains approximately seven described species, distributed primarily in North America. These small rove beetles are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants. The genus has been subject to taxonomic uncertainty, with ongoing research seeking to clarify its phylogenetic position within the Pselaphinae subfamily.
Meronera
Meronera is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Sharp in 1887. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America and Europe. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the largest groups within rove beetles.
Metopiasini
Metopiasini is a tribe of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) comprising nine genera, eight of which are restricted to the Neotropical region. The tribe is suspected to be myrmecophilous, though direct ant associations remain unconfirmed. Members exhibit morphological traits consistent with subterranean or litter-dwelling habits, including reduced eyes and elongated appendages. The genus Metopiellus, distributed from Colombia to Argentina, was recently recorded from Ecuador for the first time with two new species described from Amazonian and montane cloud forest habitats.
Microedus
Microedus is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae, tribe Anthophagini. The genus was historically known only from North America but was expanded to the Palaearctic Region following taxonomic revision in 2022, which synonymized two Palaearctic genera (Altaiodromicus and Liophilydrodes) with Microedus. The genus currently contains 16 species: seven in the Nearctic Region and nine in the Palaearctic Region. Members of this genus belong to the Hygrogeus group of omaliine rove beetles.
Micropeplinae
Micropeplinae is a small subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) characterized by 9-segmented antennae with single-segmented clubs and a tarsal formula of 4-4-4 (appearing as 3-3-3). The group comprises approximately six extant genera worldwide, including Micropeplus, Kalissus, Cerapeplus, Peplomicrus, and Arrhenopeplus, plus the extinct †Protopeplus from Burmese amber. Species are primarily associated with moist microhabitats and feed on mold spores and fungal hyphae.
Microscydmus
Microscydmus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, characterized by their small size and reduced elytra typical of the family Staphylinidae. The genus was established by Saulcy & Croissandeau in 1893 and contains species distributed across Europe, Australia, and North America. Taxonomic revisions have transferred some previously assigned species to other genera, such as Microscydmus trianguliceps to Afroeudesis. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Stenichnini within the ant-like stone beetle subfamily.
Mocyta
Mocyta is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Athetini. The genus comprises 26 known Palearctic species, with five confirmed in Ukraine and additional species documented across Europe and North America. Species identification is complicated by significant individual variability in size, coloration, and spermatheca morphology. The genus has been used in ecological monitoring and biogeographic studies, particularly in forest ecosystems.
Myllaenini
Myllaenini is a tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the subfamily Aleocharinae, established by Ganglbauer in 1895. Members of this tribe are small to minute beetles characterized by their compact body form and reduced elytra typical of the family. The tribe contains several genera distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
Myrmecocephalus
Myrmecocephalus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Falagriini. The genus contains approximately 115 recognized species as of 2026 and has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with ant colonies, reflecting their myrmecophilous lifestyle implied by the genus name.
Myrmecosaurus
Myrmecosaurus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Paederinae. The genus was established by Wasmann in 1909 and is placed in the tribe Lathrobiini. Members of this genus are associated with ant colonies, reflecting their myrmecophilous lifestyle. The genus is relatively obscure with limited published documentation.
Myrmedonota
Myrmedonota is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) first described by Cameron in 1920. The genus was first recorded from Mexico in 2013 with the description of two new species, M. shimmerale and M. xipe. Members of this genus exhibit myrmecophilous associations, aggregating toward agitated ants and potentially preying on them. The genus is suggested to be more diverse in the New World than previously recognized, though its taxonomy remains in a state of confusion.
Myrmobiota
Myrmobiota is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Oxypodini, established by Casey in 1893. Species in this genus are associated with ant colonies, exhibiting myrmecophilous habits. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the largest radiations within beetles.
Myrmoecia
Myrmoecia is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Lomechusini, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus contains nine described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Members of this genus are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants. The genus was established by Mulsant and Rey in 1873.
Nanobius
Nanobius is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pseudopsinae, described by Herman in 1977. Members of this genus are small beetles characterized by reduced elytra that leave most of the abdomen exposed, a defining trait of the family. The genus is part of the diverse staphylinid radiation, though specific ecological and biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Neobisnius
Neobisnius is a genus of large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Ganglbauer in 1895. The genus contains at least 39 recognized species in the New World, with additional species known from the Palearctic region. Species-level taxonomy has been extensively revised, with numerous synonymies resolved and subspecies recognized in some taxa.
Ocypus
Ocypus is a genus of rove beetles in the subfamily Staphylininae, containing approximately 176 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. The genus includes the well-known Ocypus olens (devil's coach-horse beetle), a large, predatory species with documented potential for biological control of pest snails. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, including O. nitens, which has established in North America and shown rapid range expansion. The genus exhibits considerable diversity in China, with numerous species described from Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, and other provinces.
Oecotheini
Oecotheini is a tribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the subfamily Staphylininae. Members of this tribe are characterized by specific morphological features related to their mouthparts and body structure. The tribe includes the genus Oecothea, which contains species adapted to particular ecological niches. Oecotheini represents a relatively small and specialized lineage within the diverse rove beetle fauna.
Olisthaerinae
Olisthaerinae is a small subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) characterized by a 5-5-5 tarsal formula and morphological similarity to Phloeocharinae. The group is primarily associated with dead conifer bark habitats. Only two species are documented in North America: Olisthaerus megacephalus and O. substriatus, with a range extending from Alaska across Canada to New York. The biology of this subfamily remains poorly understood.
Omaliini
ocellate rove beetles
Omaliini is a tribe of rove beetles within the subfamily Omaliinae, characterized by the presence of ocelli. The tribe comprises approximately 45 genera and 450 described species distributed across all zoogeographic regions. Fossil evidence from Cretaceous amber has established the minimum age of the tribe at approximately 100 million years. The tribe exhibits considerable morphological and ecological diversity, with ongoing taxonomic research revealing numerous new species, particularly in Asia and the Papuan Region.
Orochares
Orochares is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) established by Kraatz in 1857. The genus is classified within the tribe Anthophagini. One species, Orochares debilis Sharp, has been the subject of specific ecological study. Records indicate presence in northern Europe and northeastern 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.
Osorius
unmargined rove beetles
Osorius is a genus of unmargined rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Guérin-Méneville in 1829. The genus contains approximately nine described species distributed primarily in North America. Members of Osorius are characterized by the absence of lateral margins on the elytra, a trait that distinguishes them within the subfamily Osoriinae. These beetles are ground-dwelling and associated with moist, decaying organic matter.
Oxybleptes
Oxybleptes is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Smetana in 1982 within the tribe Xantholinini. The genus contains at least one confirmed species, Oxybleptes davisi (Notman, 1924), which has been documented in northeastern North America with a western range extension to Minnesota. Records indicate male specimens may be collected under specific circumstances, though details remain limited. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse rove beetle family, one of the largest families of organisms on Earth.
Oxypodina
Oxypodina is a subtribe of small rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) established by Thomson in 1859. Members of this group are classified within the tribe Oxypodini and are characterized by their compact body form and reduced wing venation compared to related aleocharines. The subtribe includes multiple genera distributed across temperate and boreal regions. These beetles are primarily ground-dwelling and are often collected in leaf litter, moss, and other decaying organic matter.
Oxypodini
Oxypodini is a tribe of small rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The tribe comprises more than 50 genera and approximately 580 described species. Members are distributed across the Holarctic region, with particular diversity in the Palaearctic. Several genera, including Amarochara, Ilyobates, Tectusa, and Porocallus, have been subject to recent taxonomic revision.
Oxyporus
Oxyporus is a genus of mycophagous rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Oxyporinae. The genus contains over 100 species distributed across Eurasia and the Americas. Adults and larvae are highly specialized fungivores that live inside and feed on fleshy fruit bodies of agaricoid Basidiomycetes. They exhibit notably short metamorphosis duration matching the ephemeral nature of their fungal hosts.
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.
Oxytelini
spiny-legged rove beetles
Oxytelini is a tribe of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) characterized by spiny legs. The tribe contains approximately 11 genera and at least 20 described species. Members are small to medium-sized beetles found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic-edge habitats. The group includes the well-known genus Oxytelus, among others.
Oxytelus
spiny-legged rove beetles
Oxytelus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Gravenhorst in 1802. It comprises over 50 described species distributed across multiple continents. Members are commonly referred to as spiny-legged rove beetles, a name reflecting a distinctive morphological feature of the group.
Papusus
Papusus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scydmaeninae, tribe Papusini. The genus was described by Casey in 1897 and is the sole member of its tribe. These beetles are among the smallest staphylinids and are associated with forest floor habitats. The genus is rarely encountered, with extremely limited observational records.
Parocyusa
Parocyusa is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Bernhauer in 1902 and contains at least one described species, Parocyusa americana. Members are found in Europe and North America.
Pella
Pella is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Lomechusini. These beetles are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants. The genus was established by Stephens in 1833 and contains species that are adapted to life within ant colonies, where they exploit resources and protection provided by their hosts.
Phacophallus
Phacophallus is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) established by Coiffait in 1956. The genus contains approximately 28 recognized species with an almost cosmopolitan distribution, found across multiple continents. As a member of the tribe Xantholinini within the subfamily Staphylininae, these beetles share the characteristic short elytra and elongated body form typical of rove beetles. Records indicate presence in northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Phanerota
Phanerota is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) comprising five described species. The genus was established by Casey in 1906 and belongs to the tribe Homalotini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. Species in this genus are distributed across North America and the Caribbean, with records from the United States, Cuba, and Canada.
Philonthus
Philonthus is a large genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing over 380 described species. These beetles are generally robust predators found in diverse habitats including decomposing organic matter, carrion, dung, and fungal substrates. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with particular diversity in the Palaearctic region. Several species have been documented as rapidly colonizing new habitats and competing with native species.
Phloeonomus
Protea Rove Beetles
Phloeonomus is a genus of ocellate rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae, containing approximately eight described species. Species within this genus are obligate saproxylic beetles associated with decaying wood and polypore fungi. The larval stages have been characterized for at least one species (P. punctipennis), showing three instars with morphological differences in antennal, leg, and urogomphal proportions between early and late instars.
Phloeopora
Phloeopora is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Erichson in 1837 and contains species distributed across Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Oxypodini and subtribe Phloeoporina. Documented species include Phloeopora adversa and Phloeopora africana.
Phloeoporina
Phloeoporina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) within the tribe Oxypodini and subfamily Aleocharinae. These beetles are small, typically myrmecophilous or termitophilous, living in association with ants or termites. The subtribe was established by Thomson in 1859 and contains multiple genera distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. Members are characterized by morphological adaptations for life in social insect colonies.
Phloeostiba
Phloeostiba is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. The genus was established by C.G. Thomson in 1858. Species are distributed across Eurasia, Australia, and North America, with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The genus includes at least two described species: Phloeostiba azorica and Phloeostiba kamijoi.
Piestus
flat rove beetles
Piestus is a genus of flat rove beetles established by Gravenhorst in 1806. The genus contains more than 30 described species and is classified within the subfamily Piestinae of the family Staphylinidae. Members of this genus are characterized by their dorsoventrally flattened body form, an adaptation associated with their habitat preferences. The genus is part of the diverse rove beetle fauna, though specific ecological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Pinophilini
Pinophilini is a tribe of rove beetles in the subfamily Paederinae, family Staphylinidae. The tribe is divided into two subtribes: Pinophilina and Procirrina. The subtribe Procirrina contains eight extant genera with approximately 764 species. The oldest known fossil representative is †Cretoprocirrus trichotos from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (ca. 99 Ma), extending the fossil record of this tribe back from the previously known Cenozoic occurrences.
Platyprosopinae
Platyprosopinae is a subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Moore in 1964. It is currently treated as a synonym within the subfamily Staphylininae, tribe Platyprosopini. The group represents a historical taxonomic concept that has been subsumed into broader staphylinine classification. Members of the tribe Platyprosopini, to which this subfamily referred, are characterized by distinctive morphological features within the diverse rove beetle fauna.