Staphylinidae
Guides
Quedius sublimbatus
Quedius sublimbatus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) with a Holarctic distribution spanning northern Eurasia and North America. The species was described by Mäklin in 1853 and is currently classified within the subgenus Raphirus of the genus Quedius. It inhabits boreal and subarctic regions across a broad longitudinal range.
Ramecia
ant-loving beetles
Ramecia is a genus of myrmecophilous (ant-loving) rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was established by Casey in 1893 and contains at least three described species: Ramecia capitula, Ramecia crinita, and Ramecia discreta. These beetles are associated with ant colonies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Reichenbachia arthritica
ant-loving beetle
Reichenbachia arthritica is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described by Brendel in 1894. The species is known from California in the western United States. As a member of the myrmecophilous genus Reichenbachia, it has been observed in association with ant colonies.
Reichenbachia congener
Reichenbachia congener is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The species was described by Brendel in 1865. It belongs to the tribe Brachyglutini, a group of small beetles often associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus Reichenbachia is part of the diverse pselaphine lineage, which contains thousands of species with specialized ecological roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Reichenbachia facilis
Reichenbachia facilis is a small ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described by Casey in 1884 and is distributed across eastern and central North America. As a member of the tribe Brachyglutini, it is likely associated with ant colonies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Reichenbachia howardi
Reichenbachia howardi is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Pselaphinae, described by O. Park in 1958. It belongs to the tribe Brachyglutini, a group of small, often cryptic beetles associated with leaf litter and soil habitats. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and central United States.
Renardia
unmargined rove beetles
Renardia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, placed in the subfamily Osoriinae. The genus is characterized by the absence of marginal ridges on the elytra, a trait that distinguishes it from related genera. Only two species are currently recognized: Renardia canadensis and Renardia nigrella. These beetles are small, elongated, and belong to a group commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats.
Renardia nigrella
unmargined rove beetle
Renardia nigrella is a species of unmargined rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by LeConte in 1863. It belongs to the subfamily Osoriinae, a group of small, typically soil-dwelling rove beetles. The species is known from scattered records across western and eastern North America.
Rhexidius incomptus
Rhexidius incomptus is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Schuster & Grigarick in 1962. It belongs to the subfamily Pselaphinae, a group of small rove beetles known for their myrmecophilous associations. The species is documented from California, USA.
Rhexius substriatus
Rhexius substriatus is a minute rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) described by LeConte in 1878. It belongs to the ant-associated tribe Trogastrini, though specific myrmecophilous behaviors for this species remain undocumented. The species is recorded from the eastern and southeastern United States.
Rugilus
Rugilus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Leach in 1819. It represents one of the major genera within the subfamily Paederinae. The genus contains multiple species distributed across Europe, with some members considered rare and associated with specific forest habitats.
Rugilus angularis
Rugilus angularis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae. It is a small, ground-dwelling beetle with a transcontinental distribution across North America, ranging from Canada through the United States to Mexico. The species was first described by Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in 1840. Like other members of the genus Rugilus, it is characterized by its compact body form and association with leaf litter and soil habitats.
Rugilus angustatus
Rugilus angustatus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) native to Europe and western Asia, with established introduced populations in eastern North America. It is a moderately sized species within the diverse genus Rugilus, characterized by its elongate body form typical of the family. The species has been documented across a broad Palearctic range and has been observed in North American localities since at least the mid-20th century.
Rugilus biarmatus
Rugilus biarmatus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is a small, elongate beetle with the characteristic short elytra that expose most of the abdomen typical of the family. The species was described by J.L. LeConte in 1880 and occurs in northeastern North America.
Rugilus rudis
Rugilus rudis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by J.L. LeConte in 1863. It belongs to the subfamily Paederinae and tribe Lathrobiini. The species is native to eastern North America, with documented occurrence records from the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. Like other members of the genus Rugilus, it is a small, ground-dwelling beetle likely associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.
Rybaxis
ant-loving beetles
Rybaxis is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, commonly referred to as ant-loving beetles. The genus contains at least 20 described species. Members of this genus are myrmecophilous, living in association with ant colonies. They were first described by Saulcy in 1876.
Rybaxis clavata
ant-loving beetle
Rybaxis clavata is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Canada and the northeastern and midwestern United States. As a member of the subfamily Pselaphinae, it is associated with ant colonies.
Scaphidium quadriguttatum
shining fungus beetle
Scaphidium quadriguttatum is a species of shining fungus beetle first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It belongs to the family Staphylinidae, the largest family of beetles, specifically within the subfamily Scaphidiinae. The species is characterized by its small size and distinctive elytral markings. It has been documented across eastern North America from Canada to the southern United States.
Scaphisoma
shining fungus beetles
Scaphisoma is the most diverse genus of Scaphidiinae, with 766 described species and subspecies distributed almost worldwide. Members are commonly known as shining fungus beetles due to their association with fungi. The genus occurs across multiple continents including Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with 38 species recorded from the Neotropical region and seven now known from Brazil. Species have been documented from polyporoid fungi and other fungal substrates.
Scaphisoma americanum
Scaphisoma americanum is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scaphidiinae. The species was described by Löbl in 1987 and is known from scattered records across the eastern and central United States. Members of this genus are typically associated with fungal habitats. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular species.
Scaphisoma pusillum
Scaphisoma pusillum is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scaphidiinae. Members of this genus are commonly known as shining fungus beetles. The species was described by J.L. LeConte in 1860 and has been recorded across a broad geographic range in the eastern and central United States.
Scaphisomatini
Scaphisomatini is a tribe of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Scaphidiinae) established by Casey in 1893. Members of this tribe are characterized by their association with fungal habitats, particularly as inhabitants of sporocarps (fruiting bodies) of basidiomycete fungi. The tribe comprises numerous genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. These beetles represent a specialized lineage within the Scaphidiinae, having evolved to exploit microhabitats within decaying fungal material.
Sceptobius
Sceptobius is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Sharp in 1883. It contains at least three described species: S. dispar, S. lativentris, and S. schmitti. The genus belongs to the tribe Sceptobiini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. Little is documented about the biology of these beetles.
Sceptobius lativentris
Sceptobius lativentris is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Fenyes in 1909. It belongs to the tribe Sceptobiini within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species has been recorded from North America and Central America, with specific documentation from California, USA.
Scopaeina
Scopaeina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Lathrobiini, subfamily Paederinae. It was established by Mulsant and Rey in 1878. Members are small to medium-sized beetles with the characteristic short elytra and elongated body form typical of the family. The subtribe is distinguished by specific morphological features of the aedeagus and other genitalic structures, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Scydmaenus
ant-like stone beetles
Scydmaenus is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, commonly called ant-like stone beetles. The genus has nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species documented across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and other regions. Members are small, slow-moving beetles typically found in soil and leaf litter habitats. Some species have been documented as predators of soft-bodied arthropods, though earlier literature suggested specialization on armored mites.
Sebaga
Sebaga is a genus of ant-loving beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae, tribe Jubini. It was established by Raffray in 1891. The genus contains a single described species, Sebaga ocampi. These beetles are myrmecophilous, meaning they live in association with ants.
Sepedophilus
rove beetles
A genus of small rove beetles in the subfamily Tachyporinae, containing approximately 30 species in North America north of Mexico. Species are distinguished by detailed examination of male and female eighth abdominal sternites and tergites, male genitalia, and other morphological characters. The genus has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision due to historical confusion with related generic names including Conurus, Conosoma, and Conosomus.
Sepedophilus brachypterus
Sepedophilus brachypterus is a rove beetle described by Campbell in 1976. It belongs to the subfamily Tachyporinae, a group often associated with fungal fruiting bodies and decaying organic matter. The species is characterized by reduced wings (brachyptery), as indicated by its specific epithet. It is known from eastern North America with a range extending from Canada through the eastern and central United States.
Sepedophilus crassus
Sepedophilus crassus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. The species was described by Gravenhorst in 1802 and is widely distributed across eastern North America, ranging from Canada to the southern United States. As a member of the genus Sepedophilus, it belongs to a group of rove beetles commonly associated with fungal fruiting bodies and decaying organic matter.
Sepedophilus frosti
Sepedophilus frosti is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) described in 1976 from eastern North America. It is one of thirteen new species described in a revision of the genus Sepedophilus for America north of Mexico. The species belongs to a genus of small, often overlooked beetles associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Sepedophilus opicus
Sepedophilus opicus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. The species was originally described as Tachyporus opicus by Say in 1832. A neotype was designated for this species in a 1976 revision by Campbell, which also clarified its taxonomic status by recognizing Sepedophilus cinctulus and Sepedophilus bisignatus as valid species previously synonymized with opicus and bipustulatus respectively. The species belongs to a genus of small, agile beetles commonly associated with moist, decaying organic matter.
Sepedophilus testaceus
Sepedophilus testaceus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) originally described from Europe and now established in North America as an introduced species. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with several previously described North American species (imbricatus, limuloides, elongatus) synonymized under this name. Larvae possess specialized morphological adaptations on the posterior abdomen that facilitate prey capture. Adults are associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Sepedophilus velocipes
Sepedophilus velocipes is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) described by Casey in 1895. The species name S. virginiae Casey, 1911 was synonymized with S. velocipes in a 1976 taxonomic revision of the genus. The species is assigned to a species group based on morphological examination of Nearctic and related faunas. Diagnostic characters include male and female eighth abdominal sternites and tergites and male genitalia.
Sepedophilus wickhami
Sepedophilus wickhami is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae, described by Campbell in 1976 from northeastern North America. As one of thirteen new species described in a comprehensive revision of the genus Sepedophilus in America north of Mexico, it belongs to a diverse group of rove beetles characterized by their compact body form and association with decaying organic matter. The species is part of a genus containing thirty recognized species in the region, divided into twelve species groups based on morphological characters.
Silphini
carrion beetles
Silphini is a tribe of large carrion beetles within the rove beetle family Staphylinidae, subfamily Silphinae. Members are worldwide distributed and characterized by their association with decomposing animal matter. The tribe comprises approximately 114 described species across 12 extant genera, including well-known genera such as Silpha, Thanatophilus, and Necrophila. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed complex relationships within the tribe, with evidence that some historically recognized genera may render Silpha paraphyletic.
Silusa
Silusa is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Homalotini) established by Erichson in 1837. The genus occurs in the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, with species documented in Europe and North America. Nearctic species have been subject to recent taxonomic revision, which expanded known distributions and clarified species boundaries through examination of external and genital morphology.
Silusa densa
Silusa densa is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. Originally described from California in 1909, the species was later documented in Alberta, Canada, representing a significant range expansion and first Canadian record. As a member of the genus Silusa, it belongs to a group of small, often overlooked beetles that are part of the diverse rove beetle fauna of North America.
Silusida marginella
Silusida marginella is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. First described by Casey in 1893 under the name Bolitochara marginella, this species is known from scattered records across eastern North America. Like other members of its tribe Homalotini, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats. The genus Silusida is small and poorly documented in popular literature.
Sonoma parviceps
Sonoma parviceps is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, specifically within the ant-loving beetle subfamily Pselaphinae. The species was first described by Mäklin in 1852 under the name Euplectus parviceps. It is distributed across western North America, with records from Alaska through British Columbia and south to California. As a member of Pselaphinae, it is presumed to be associated with ant colonies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Speleobama vana
Speleobama vana is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) described by Orlando Park in 1951. The genus name Speleobama, combining Greek 'speleo' (cave) and 'bama' (step/walk), indicates an association with cave habitats. The species is known from Alabama, USA, and belongs to the tribe Speleobamini within the diverse Pselaphinae subfamily, which contains many small, cryptic beetles often associated with leaf litter, soil, and subterranean environments.
Speleobamini
Speleobamini is a tribe of rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, established by Park in 1951. Members of this tribe are small, highly specialized beetles associated with subterranean and cave environments. The tribe is part of the diverse Pselaphinae radiation, which contains numerous microhabitat specialists. Speleobamini represents one of several lineages within Pselaphinae that have adapted to dark, moist habitats.
Staphylinina
Staphylinina is a subtribe of rove beetles within the tribe Staphylinini, family Staphylinidae. Members are typically medium to large-sized rove beetles with elongated bodies and relatively short elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The subtribe includes genera such as Platydracus, Staphylinus, Ocypus, Agelosus, and Naddia. Several species have been documented exhibiting specialized behaviors including ant-mimicry and termitophily. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Staphylinini
Staphylinini is a tribe of large rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae. The tribe contains at least 20 genera and approximately 120 described species. Members are distributed across multiple biogeographic regions, with documented occurrences in the Palaearctic, Neotropical, and Oriental regions. Some species exhibit specialized ecological associations, including termitophily.
Stenichnus scutellaris
Stenichnus scutellaris is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, native to Europe and parts of western Asia. The species has been introduced to North America, with established populations recorded in Ontario, Canada. As a member of the genus Stenichnus, it belongs to a group of minute beetles typically found in leaf litter and other decaying organic matter.
Steninae
Water Skater Beetles
Steninae is a megadiverse subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing over 3,000 species worldwide, primarily in the genera *Stenus* and *Dianous*. Members are characterized by their unique prey-capture apparatus: a protrusible elongated labium with paraglossae modified into adhesive pads that eject via haemolymph pressure to capture springtails and other small arthropods. Many species exhibit remarkable water-gliding behavior using gland secretions that reduce surface tension. Adults are diurnal, visually oriented predators of moist habitats.
Stenistoderus rubripennis
Red-winged Rove Beetle
A medium-sized rove beetle (Staphylinidae) characterized by distinctive reddish-orange elytra that contrast with its darker head and pronotum. The species occurs across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from Ontario south to Texas and east to the Atlantic coast. Adults have been collected in diverse terrestrial habitats including deciduous forests, grasslands, and riparian areas. The specific epithet 'rubripennis' refers directly to the red-colored wing covers.
Stenus
rove beetles, water-gliding rove beetles
Stenus is a genus of semiaquatic rove beetles comprising approximately 3100 described species, making it one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom. These beetles are specialist predators of small arthropods, particularly Collembola. They possess distinctive adaptations including a protrusible adhesive labium for prey capture and pygidial gland secretions that enable rapid water surface locomotion via the Marangoni effect. The genus occurs worldwide across diverse habitats from aquatic margins to terrestrial leaf litter.
Stenus angustus
Stenus angustus is a rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, known for their specialized adaptations for life near water. Members of the genus Stenus exhibit a range of water-gliding abilities, with some species capable of skimming across water surfaces using gland secretions that reduce surface tension. This species is documented from North America, with records from both Canada and the United States.
Stenus annularis
Stenus annularis is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, described by Erichson in 1840. The genus Stenus is notable for its members' ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions that reduce surface tension. Some species in this genus also employ a unique hunting mechanism involving the ejection of mouthparts using blood pressure to capture small invertebrate prey. Stenus annularis has a broad distribution across North America, with records from Canada and the United States.