Staphylinidae
Guides
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.
Achenomorphus corticinus
Achenomorphus corticinus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Paederinae. It is broadly distributed across eastern North America, with records spanning from southeastern Canada through the eastern and midwestern United States. The species inhabits forested environments and has been collected in association with bark and decaying wood. It is one of the more frequently encountered species in its genus, with over 450 observations documented on iNaturalist.
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.
Acidota crenata
Crenate Ocellate Rove Beetle
Acidota crenata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern and central Europe, extending eastward through Russia to East Asia, and present in North America including Canada and the United States. It is one of approximately 15 species in the genus Acidota, which are characterized by distinctive ocellate (eye-spotted) patterns on the elytra. The specific epithet 'crenata' refers to the crenate (scalloped or notched) margins characteristic of this species.
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.
Acrotona austiniana
Acrotona austiniana is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1910. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Texas. As a member of one of the largest beetle families, it contributes to the documented diversity of Staphylinidae in the region.
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.
Acruliopsis tumidula
Acruliopsis tumidula is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) described from the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is one of few species in the genus Acruliopsis, a group of omaliine rove beetles characterized by compact body form and association with forest floor habitats. The species has been recorded from coastal and montane regions of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
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.
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.
Acylophorus caseyi
Casey's Rove Beetle
Acylophorus caseyi is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Leng in 1920. It belongs to the genus Acylophorus, a group of relatively large rove beetles within the tribe Staphylinini. The species is known from eastern North America, with records spanning from Canada to the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter.
Acylophorus pratensis
Acylophorus pratensis is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, first described by LeConte in 1863. The species is currently recognized as a synonym of Amacylophorus pratensis. It has been documented in limited observations across parts of Canada and the northeastern and midwestern United States.
Acylophorus pronus
Stooping Rove Beetle
Acylophorus pronus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly known as the Stooping Rove Beetle. The species was described by Erichson in 1840 and is widely distributed across northern North America. As a member of the large genus Acylophorus, it inhabits moist terrestrial environments where it functions as a generalist predator or scavenger.
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.
Aleochara
Aleochara is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) distinguished by its parasitoid larval life history. Adults are predatory, feeding on eggs, larvae, and puparia of scatophagous and necrophagous Diptera. Larvae are ectoparasitoids that develop inside fly puparia, killing the host. The genus contains at least 150 and possibly more than 400 species across 16 subgenera, with a worldwide distribution except Antarctica. Several species, notably Aleochara bilineata, are significant biological control agents of agricultural pest flies.
Aleochara bimaculata
Two-spotted Aleochara
Aleochara bimaculata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It belongs to the large and diverse subfamily Aleocharinae, which contains thousands of species worldwide. The species name "bimaculata" refers to two spots, likely describing a distinctive marking on the elytra. As with many Aleochara species, it is probably associated with decaying organic matter and may have ecological importance in nutrient cycling.
Aleochara curtula
Shortened Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara curtula is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, distributed across the Palearctic region and introduced to North America. Adults measure approximately 7 mm in length with distinctive two-toned elytra and brush-like antennae. The species exhibits complex sexual behaviors including male-male aggression, female mimicry through pheromone production, and active female mate choice. Larvae are ectoparasitoids of fly pupae, developing within carrion habitats.
Aleochara lanuginosa
Woolly Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara lanuginosa is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by its minute size and distinctive woolly pubescence. The species is native to the Palearctic region but has been introduced to North America, where it is now established in Canada and the northern United States. It belongs to the subgenus Xenochara, a group of Aleochara species with specialized ecological associations.
Aleochara lata
Large Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara lata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It belongs to the subgenus Aleochara Gravenhorst, a group of parasitoid rove beetles. The species is native to the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America.
Aleochara littoralis
Aleochara littoralis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Wollaston in 1864. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Aleochara obscurella in some taxonomic databases, though this status appears inconsistent across sources. It has been recorded from Europe, Morocco, and the Canary Islands.
Aleochara lucifuga
Aleochara lucifuga is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, characterized by the abbreviated elytra typical of Staphylinidae. The species was described by Casey in 1893 and is documented from multiple eastern and central U.S. states. It belongs to a large genus of predatory rove beetles, though specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented.
Aleochara pacifica
Aleochara pacifica is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is distributed along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia through California and Oregon to Washington, with records extending into Mexico. The species was originally described as Polistoma pacifica by Casey in 1893. Like other members of the genus Aleochara, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and may have predatory or parasitoid relationships with fly puparia, though specific ecological studies for this species are limited.
Aleochara speculicollis
Shiny Minute Rove Beetle
Aleochara speculicollis is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Bernhauer in 1901. The species is characterized by a notably shiny, reflective pronotum that contributes to its common name. It occurs across a broad transcontinental range from Canada through the United States to Mexico. Like other members of the genus Aleochara, it is presumed to be associated with decaying organic matter and carrion habitats.
Aleochara sulcicollis
A rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae with a documented parasitoid life history involving kelp flies. Larvae develop as parasitoids of intertidal kelp flies, specifically Fucellia rufitibia, with adults likely active in coastal habitats where macroalgae and host flies occur. The species has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America.
Aleochara taeniata
Aleochara taeniata is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It has been documented as a parasite of the house fly, Musca domestica, with larvae developing within fly puparia. The species occurs across a broad geographic range in the Americas, from the southwestern United States through Central America and into South America, with records from the Caribbean as well.
Aleochara thoracica
Aleochara thoracica is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Falagriini. The species was described by Stephens in 1832 and is currently accepted under this name, though it has been classified under the genus Falagrioma in some treatments. It occurs in northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.
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.
Aleodorus bilobatus
Two-lobed Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus bilobatus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) native to eastern North America. Adults measure 2.8–4.1 mm and exhibit variable coloration from light brown to black. The species is associated with wet riparian habitats, particularly vegetation along rivers and ditches. It is classified in the tribe Falagriini within the subfamily Aleocharinae.
Aleodorus intricatus
Intricate Minute Rove Beetle
Aleodorus intricatus is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, tribe Falagriini. It measures 3.1–4.1 mm and is uniformly light to dark brownish-testaceous in color. The species is distributed in western North America from the southwestern United States to southern Canada.
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.
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.
Aloconota neocambrica
Variable Minute Rove Beetle
Aloconota neocambrica is a minute rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae, described from eastern Canada in 2011. It belongs to the tribe Geostibini, a group of small aleocharines associated with forest floor habitats. The species epithet "neocambrica" references New Brunswick, indicating the type locality region. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
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.
Amarochara duryi
Amarochara duryi is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1906. It belongs to the large subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the most diverse groups within Staphylinidae. The species is known from scattered records across northeastern North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (New Brunswick, Quebec) and the United States (Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts). Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Amarochara fenyesi
Fenyes's Minute Rove Beetle
A small rove beetle in the genus Amarochara, described by Blatchley in 1910. It is one of 25 valid species recognized in the Holarctic revision of the genus. The species belongs to a group characterized by specific morphological traits and shares the genus-wide trait of apparently utilizing subterranean habitats for reproduction and hibernation.
Amarochara forticornis
Amarochara forticornis is a rove beetle species in the tribe Oxypodini, originally described by Lacordaire in 1835. It is one of 25 valid species recognized in the Holarctic revision of the genus Amarochara. The species has undergone taxonomic clarification, with previous synonymies resolved. It is assigned to one of five species groups established for Holarctic representatives of the genus.
Amarochara inquilina
Amarochara inquilina is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described as Nasirema inquilina by Casey in 1906. A lectotype was designated for this species in a 2002 revision of Holarctic Amarochara. The species is known from northeastern Canada (New Brunswick) and Iowa, USA. Like other Holarctic members of its genus, it is believed to have a univoltine life cycle with spring-summer reproduction.
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.
Amphichroum maculatum
Amphichroum maculatum is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. It is a small beetle found in western North America, with records from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California, and east to Nevada. The specific epithet "maculatum" (spotted) suggests a patterned appearance, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources. As a member of the Omaliinae, it likely inhabits moist terrestrial environments where these beetles are commonly encountered.
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.
Anomognathus cuspidatus
Anomognathus cuspidatus is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, with introduced populations established in eastern North America including Canada and the northeastern United States. The species belongs to the tribe Homalotini, a group of aleocharine rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Anotylus insecatus
Anotylus insecatus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is native to Europe but has been introduced to North America, with established populations in Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Gravenhorst in 1806 under the basionym Oxytelus insecatus. It belongs to the subfamily Oxytelinae, a group of small to medium-sized rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter.
Anotylus insignitus
Anotylus insignitus is a species of spiny-legged rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It has an exceptionally broad global distribution spanning six continents, including native ranges in the Neotropics and Caribbean, and introduced populations in North America, Europe, and Oceania. The species belongs to the tribe Oxytelini, a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) habits and association with decaying organic matter.
Anthobium
Anthobium is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini) established by William Elford Leach in 1819. The genus has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with multiple former genera (Deliphrum, Lathrimaeum, Eudeliphrum, Arpediopsis) synonymized under Anthobium. Species are organized into numerous species groups including atrocephalum, fusculum, gracilipalpe, nigrum, morchella, reflexum, consanguineum, crassum, tectum, algidum, morosum, fortepunctatum, and convexior groups. The genus is distributed across the entire Palaearctic region, with highest diversity in mountainous areas of China, the Himalayas, and Nepal.
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.
Aplastus productus
Aplastus productus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. Information regarding this species is extremely limited in the provided source material. The genus Aplastus belongs to the large and diverse rove beetle family, whose members are characterized by shortened elytra that leave most of the abdomen exposed. No specific observations, habitat associations, or behavioral details for A. productus are documented in the available context.