Staphylinidae
Guides
Platystethus degener
spiny-legged rove beetle
Platystethus degener is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by spiny legs. It is native to the Palearctic region, with established introduced populations in North America. The species was first described by Mulsant & Rey in 1878. Like other members of the genus Platystethus, it belongs to the subfamily Oxytelinae, a group known for their compact body form and association with decaying organic matter.
Platystethus spiculus
Platystethus spiculus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) first described from South America in 1840. The species has established an exceptionally broad distribution across the Neotropics and has been introduced to the Galápagos Islands and Tahiti. Its spread to oceanic islands suggests human-mediated dispersal, likely through agricultural or horticultural trade. The species belongs to the subfamily Oxytelinae, whose members are often associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats.
Platyusa sonomae
Platyusa sonomae is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is the sole described species in the monotypic genus Platyusa. The species is found in the western United States, particularly in California and Arizona, with scattered records elsewhere.
Pontomalota
Pontomalota is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Athetini, established by Casey in 1885. The genus belongs to a group of 'sea shore genera' within the family, suggesting association with coastal habitats. Two species are currently recognized: Pontomalota opaca (LeConte, 1863) and Pontomalota terminalia Ahn & Ashe, 1992. The genus is classified in the subfamily Aleocharinae, one of the largest and most diverse lineages of rove beetles.
Pontomalota opaca
Pontomalota opaca is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. The genus Pontomalota is characterized as a "sea shore genus," suggesting ecological affinity for coastal environments. This small beetle occurs in western North America, with records from Pacific coastal regions extending from Alaska through British Columbia to California, Oregon, and Washington, plus inland records from the northwestern United States. The species is among the least documented members of its genus, with limited observational records despite its relatively broad geographic range.
Prolibia
Prolibia is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Osoriinae, described by Newton in 2017. It belongs to the tribe Thoracophorini and subtribe Clavilispinina. The genus is relatively recently described with limited published information available.
Prolibia prolixa
Prolibia prolixa is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Osoriinae, described by J.L. LeConte in 1877. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive antennal structures. The species has been documented in northeastern North America.
Prolibia rufescens
Prolibia rufescens is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Osoriinae, described by Hatch in 1957. It is a small beetle with documented occurrences in western North America. The specific epithet "rufescens" refers to a reddish coloration. As a member of the Osoriinae, it belongs to a group of litter-dwelling rove beetles typically found in moist, decomposing organic matter.
Proteinus basalis
Proteinus basalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mäklin in 1852. It belongs to the subfamily Proteininae, a group of small staphylinids often associated with decaying organic matter. The species has been recorded across western North America from Alaska to California, with additional records in western Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with moist, decaying substrates where it feeds on fungal spores and small invertebrates.
Proteinus brachypterus
Proteinus brachypterus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) characterized by reduced hind wings (brachyptery), a trait reflected in its species name. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region, with confirmed records from Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and western North America. The species inhabits various decaying organic substrates and is associated with forest floor and riparian environments. Like other members of Proteininae, it is presumed to be a predator or scavenger in microarthropod communities, though specific ecological studies are limited.
Proteinus collaris
Proteinus collaris is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Hatch in 1957. It belongs to the subfamily Proteininae, a group of beetles often associated with fungal habitats. The species is known from the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with records from coastal British Columbia, Washington, and Alaska. Like other members of the genus Proteinus, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and fungal fruiting bodies.
Pselaphitae
Pselaphitae is a supertribe of minute rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) characterized by compact, often hump-backed bodies with shortened elytra. The group comprises nine tribes and at least thirteen described genera, including Pselaphus, Tmesiphorus, and Tyrus. Members are primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with notable radiations in New Zealand where several endemic genera have been described. The supertribe was established by Latreille in 1802 and remains an active subject of taxonomic revision.
Pselaphomimus
Pselaphomimus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Osoriinae. It was established by Bruch in 1942 and belongs to the tribe Thoracophorini. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and biological literature, with minimal published information on its species composition and natural history.
Pselaphomimus amphiphilus
Pselaphomimus amphiphilus is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, described by Bruch in 1942. It belongs to the subfamily Osoriinae, a group of small, soil-dwelling beetles. The species is known from Argentina based on limited collection records.
Pselaphus
ant-loving beetles
Pselaphus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, containing at least 20 described species. These beetles are commonly referred to as "ant-loving beetles" due to their well-documented associations with ants. Members of this genus exhibit highly compact thoracic skeletal structures with reduced sutures and simplified flight musculature, indicating flightlessness in at least some species. The genus has been subject to detailed anatomical study, particularly regarding thoracic morphology and adaptations to myrmecophilous lifestyles.
Pselaphus erichsoni
Pselaphus erichsoni is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles often associated with ant colonies.
Pselaptus
Pselaptus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, family Staphylinidae. Members of this genus are characterized by their small size and the compact body form typical of pselaphine beetles. The genus was established by John Lawrence LeConte in 1880. Like other pselaphines, species in this genus are presumed to inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pselaptus belfragei
Pselaptus belfragei is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described by LeConte in 1880 and is currently accepted as a valid species. The species is recorded from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, California, and Texas. As a member of the Pselaphinae, it belongs to a diverse group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.
Pseudactium arcuatum
ant-loving beetle
Pseudactium arcuatum is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly known as ant-loving beetles. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1849 and is known from the southeastern United States. Members of this subfamily are typically myrmecophilous, living in close association with ant colonies.
Pseudolathra
Pseudolathra is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) established by Casey in 1905. The genus comprises approximately 13 species in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with six species described in 2012 from Thailand, India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Species are currently divided between two subgenera: Allolathra for East Palaearctic/Oriental species and Pseudolathra for West Palaearctic species, reflecting separate phylogenetic lineages. The genus has undergone recent taxonomic revision including species revalidations, synonymies, and transfers from related genera.
Pseudolathra atriventris
Pseudolathra atriventris is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Paederinae, first described by Casey in 1910. The species is placed in the genus Pseudolathra, a group of small to medium-sized predatory beetles within the tribe Lathrobiini. Records indicate it occurs in the United States, specifically Oklahoma and Rhode Island. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.
Pseudolathra famelica
Pseudolathra famelica is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1905. It belongs to the subfamily Paederinae and tribe Lathrobiini. The species has been documented from limited localities in Canada (Quebec) and the United States (Iowa, Oklahoma). As with many rove beetles, detailed natural history information remains sparse in the published literature.
Pseudomedon
Pseudomedon is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subtribe Medonina, established by Mulsant & Rey in 1878. The genus contains approximately 23 species distributed across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. Larval morphology has been described for at least one species, revealing two instars with distinctive anatomical features. Adults are rarely encountered in Europe and often require male genitalia analysis for accurate species identification.
Pseudopsinae
Pseudopsinae is a small subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing four extant genera—Pseudopsis, Nanobius, Asemobius, and Zalobius—with approximately 55 species. The subfamily is distinguished by longitudinal carinae on the head, pronotum, and elytra, and a fine stridulatory file on the genital segment. Fossil records extend to the Lower Cretaceous (~125 Ma), indicating an ancient origin. Members inhabit moist microhabitats including forest leaf litter, fungi, and riparian moss.
Pycnoglypta campbelli
A small rove beetle in the subfamily Omaliinae, described from North American material in 1995. Known from scattered records across boreal and temperate regions of Canada and the northern United States. The genus Pycnoglypta contains few species and is characterized by compact body form and distinctive mouthpart structures.
Pycnoglypta fracta
Pycnoglypta fracta is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Omaliinae. It belongs to the tribe Omaliini, a group of small to medium-sized beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter and forest floor habitats. The genus Pycnoglypta is part of the diverse staphylinid fauna of North America.
Pycnoplectus spinifer
Pycnoplectus spinifer is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Casey in 1884. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a diverse group of small rove beetles commonly associated with ant colonies. The species is documented from multiple states across the southern and central United States.
Quedius alesi-msname
Quedius alesi-msname is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The species epithet "alesi-msname" appears to be a placeholder or manuscript name indicating an unpublished or provisional designation. As a member of the large genus Quedius, it belongs to a group of predatory beetles commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats. Specific information about this particular species is not available in published literature.
Quedius bicoloris
Quedius bicoloris is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described in 2011 from North America. The species was originally placed in the genus Indoquedius but is now accepted in Quedius. It has been recorded from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Quedius brunnipennis
Quedius brunnipennis is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Mannerheim in 1843. It is placed in the subgenus Distichalius within the genus Quedius. The species is recorded from northern North America, with distribution spanning boreal and temperate regions of Canada and the northern United States.
Quedius caseyi
Quedius caseyi is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Scheerpeltz in 1933. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Quedius (Microsaurus) divergens, a member of the subgenus Microsaurus within the large genus Quedius. The species has been recorded from multiple provinces across Canada and several western and midwestern U.S. states.
Quedius caseyi divergens
Quedius caseyi divergens is a subspecies of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. As a member of the genus Quedius, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly found in various terrestrial habitats. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological differentiation from the nominate form Quedius caseyi caseyi. Specific information about this particular subspecies is limited in available sources.
Quedius cinctus
banded rove beetle
Quedius cinctus is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa, with introduced populations in eastern North America. The species is characterized by its relatively large size among rove beetles and the distinctive banded pattern on its elytra. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-dwelling predator found in forested and riparian habitats.
Quedius erythrogaster
Quedius erythrogaster is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1852 and is currently accepted as valid. It belongs to the subgenus Microsaurus within the genus Quedius. Records indicate a restricted western Nearctic distribution.
Quedius fulvicollis
Quedius fulvicollis is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Stephens in 1833. Originally placed in the genus Raphirus, it is now classified within the large genus Quedius. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Iceland, and North America. As a member of Staphylininae, it likely occupies ground-dwelling habitats and contributes to decomposition processes, though specific ecological studies are limited.
Quedius griffinae
Quedius griffinae is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Hatch in 1957. The species is known from the Pacific coast of North America, with records in British Columbia, California, Oregon, and Washington. Like other members of the genus Quedius, it likely inhabits moist terrestrial environments and exhibits the characteristic short elytra and elongated body form typical of staphylinid beetles.
Quedius horni
Quedius horni is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Hatch in 1957. The species is known from the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with records from British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington. Like other members of the large genus Quedius, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly found in forest floor habitats and associated with decaying organic matter.
Quedius limbifer
Quedius limbifer is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described by Horn in 1878. The species is currently accepted as valid, though it has been treated as a synonym in some historical taxonomic works. It belongs to the subgenus Microsaurus within the large genus Quedius. Records indicate it is a western North American species with limited observational data available.
Quedius longipennis
Quedius longipennis is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) originally described by Mannerheim in 1846. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Quedionuchus longipennis, having been transferred to the genus Quedionuchus based on phylogenetic and morphological studies. It is distributed across northern North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States. As a member of the large rove beetle family, it likely occupies soil and litter habitats typical of the group, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Quedius marginalis
Quedius marginalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mäklin in 1852. It is currently classified as an ambiguous synonym in the Catalogue of Life, placed within the subgenus Quedius (Distichalius). The species belongs to the diverse genus Quedius, one of the largest genera in Staphylinidae, whose members are predominantly predatory and commonly found in soil, leaf litter, and decaying organic matter.
Quedius mesomelinus
Quedius mesomelinus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) originally described from Europe in 1802. The species has been widely introduced outside its native range, with established populations in North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and several subantarctic islands. A subspecies, Q. m. skoraszewskyi, was described in 1961 but is treated as a synonym. The species belongs to the subgenus Microsaurus within the large genus Quedius.
Quedius molochinus
Quedius molochinus is a large, robust rove beetle in the subgenus Quedius sensu stricto. It is one of the most widespread species in its genus across the Palearctic region. The species has been introduced to eastern Canada, likely through historical ship ballast transport. Recent molecular studies have revealed unexpected cryptic diversity within this morphologically uniform species.
Quedius nanulus
Quedius nanulus is a small rove beetle described by Casey in 1915. It belongs to the large genus Quedius, one of the most diverse lineages within Staphylinidae. The species is documented from western North America, with records from the Pacific Northwest and adjacent Canadian provinces. Like other Quedius species, it likely inhabits moist ground-level microhabitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Quedius oculeus
Quedius oculeus is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1915. It belongs to the large genus Quedius, which contains numerous species of predatory beetles found primarily in soil and leaf litter habitats. The species is known from a limited number of observations, with records restricted to the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Quedius pediculus
Pedicular Rove Beetle
Quedius pediculus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Nordmann in 1837. The species bears the common name "Pedicular Rove Beetle," though the etymology of this name remains unclear from available sources. As a member of the large and diverse genus Quedius, this species is part of one of the most species-rich genera within Staphylinidae. The genus Quedius is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with many species occupying varied habitats from forest litter to riparian zones.
Quedius peregrinus
Quedius peregrinus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described by Gravenhorst in 1806 under the basionym Microsaurus peregrinus. It belongs to the tribe Quediini within the subfamily Staphylininae. The species is native to North America and has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning eastern Canada and much of the eastern and central United States.
Quedius plagiatus
Quedius plagiatus is a rove beetle species described by Mannerheim in 1843. The species is currently listed as an ambiguous synonym in taxonomic databases, with its original placement in Quedius now considered uncertain. It has been reclassified to Quedionuchus plagiatus in some treatments. As a member of Staphylinidae, it belongs to one of the largest families of beetles, though specific biological information for this species remains sparse.
Quedius prostans
Quedius prostans is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described by Horn in 1878. The species has been reclassified under the genus Iratiquedius in some taxonomic treatments, reflecting ongoing revisionary work within the Quediina subtribe. It is distributed across western North America from British Columbia to Arizona.
Quedius seriatus
Quedius seriatus is a rove beetle species described by Horn in 1878. Taxonomic treatment of this species varies: Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym, while GBIF accepts it as valid. NCBI and iNaturalist place it in the genus Iratiquedius as I. seriatus, suggesting ongoing taxonomic revision. The species is recorded from western North America including British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Quedius simulator
Quedius simulator is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Smetana in 1971. It belongs to the large genus Quedius, which comprises numerous species distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species has been recorded across northern North America, with specimens documented from Alaska through Canada to the northern United States.