Staphylinidae
Guides
Stenus clavicornis
Stenus clavicornis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Steninae. Like other members of the genus Stenus, this species possesses the ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions that reduce surface tension. The species has been recorded across a broad Palearctic distribution and has been introduced to parts of North America.
Stenus colon
Stenus colon is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly referred to as a water skater due to its association with moist habitats. It was described by Thomas Say in 1831 and occurs across eastern and central North America. The species belongs to the large genus Stenus, which contains over 3,000 described species worldwide, many of which are semi-aquatic or inhabit wet environments.
Stenus comma
Stenus comma is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, notable for its highly specialized predatory behavior. The species employs a unique hunting mechanism using pygidial gland secretions to capture springtails (Collembola). It can eject a viscous, sticky secretion as a droplet on an extendable terminal filament to 'shoot' at prey, or apply the secretion directly during ambush. The beetle demonstrates flexible hunting strategies that adapt to different prey types and defensive capabilities. This species has a broad distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America.
Stenus erythropus
water skater
Stenus erythropus is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, commonly referred to as a water skater. It was described by F. E. Melsheimer in 1844. The species occurs in North America across Canada and the northeastern and midwestern United States. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses the ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions that reduce surface tension.
Stenus juno
Stenus juno is a species of predatory rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Steninae. It was first described by Paykull in 1789. The species has a broad Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, northern Asia, and North America. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses specialized adaptations for capturing prey.
Stenus latissimus
Stenus latissimus is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, first described by Bernhauer in 1938. Members of the genus Stenus are known for their specialized hunting adaptations, including the ability to eject mouthparts using blood pressure to capture prey. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning northern Asia and western North America. As with other Steninae, it is a specialist predator of small invertebrates.
Stenus latissimus hatchi
Stenus latissimus hatchi is a subspecies of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Steninae. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses the specialized labial apparatus that allows some species to capture prey using adhesive secretions. The subspecies occurs across a broad transcontinental range spanning northern Eurasia and western North America. As a member of the Steninae, it is associated with moist habitats near water bodies where the water-gliding behavior characteristic of many congeners may be expressed.
Stenus pinguis
Stenus pinguis is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, first described by Casey in 1884. The species belongs to a genus renowned for its remarkable water-gliding ability, enabled by specialized gland secretions that reduce surface tension. As a member of Stenus, it likely employs the characteristic labial prey-capture mechanism using eversible mouthparts with adhesive paraglossae to capture small invertebrate prey. The species has been recorded across western North America from Canada to the United States.
Stenus plicipennis
Stenus plicipennis is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, described by Casey in 1884. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses the characteristic labial apparatus used for prey capture, though the specific ecology of this species remains poorly documented. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern North America and eastern Russia. It represents one of numerous Stenus species adapted to moist microhabitats where predatory specialization on small invertebrates occurs.
Stenus pubescens
Stenus pubescens is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Steninae. It is one of numerous species in the large genus Stenus, which is characterized by distinctive adaptations including the ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across much of Europe, northern Asia, and North America. Like other members of the genus, it is a predator of small invertebrates.
Stenus retrusus
Stenus retrusus is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, family Staphylinidae. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses the distinctive labial apparatus that enables specialized predatory behavior. The species was described by Casey in 1884 and is known from western North America, with records from Canada (British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador) and the United States (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin).
Stenus sculptilis
Stenus sculptilis is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, described by Casey in 1884. It occurs in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada, and several western US states including California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. As a member of the genus Stenus, it belongs to a group known for specialized predatory adaptations, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Stenus stygicus
Stenus stygicus is a rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, characterized by its ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions. The species occurs across North America from Canada through the United States to Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it employs a distinctive prey-capture mechanism involving the ballistic projection of mouthparts. It is one of numerous Stenus species documented in the region, with records spanning diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to temperate and subtropical zones.
Stethusa
Stethusa is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. The genus was established by Casey in 1910 and is currently classified within the tribe Athetini. Members of this genus are part of the diverse aleocharine fauna of North America. Very few observations of this genus exist in biodiversity databases, suggesting either genuine rarity or undercollection.
Stethusa spuriella
Stethusa spuriella is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Casey in 1910. It belongs to the subfamily Aleocharinae, the largest subfamily of rove beetles, which are characterized by their reduced elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The species has been recorded across eastern North America from Canada to the southeastern United States.
Stictocranius puncticeps
Stictocranius puncticeps is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Euaesthetinae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866. It belongs to the tribe Stictocraniini, a group of small rove beetles characterized by distinctive cranial and antennal features. The species has been recorded across eastern North America from Canada to the southeastern United States.
Stictolinus
Stictolinus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Xantholinini. It was described by Casey in 1906. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles with the characteristic abbreviated elytra of the family. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse rove beetle lineage, one of the largest families of beetles globally.
Stictolinus flavipes
Stictolinus flavipes is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by John L. LeConte in 1863. The species epithet "flavipes" (yellow legs) refers to a distinctive color characteristic. It belongs to the tribe Xantholinini within the subfamily Staphylininae. The species has been recorded across northeastern North America, with distribution spanning eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Stilicopsina
Stilicopsina is a subtribe of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) established by Casey in 1905, classified within the tribe Lathrobiini and subfamily Paederinae. As a subtribe, it represents a grouping of genera sharing derived morphological characteristics that distinguish them from other Lathrobiini. The subtribe is part of the megadiverse Staphylinidae family, one of the largest families of organisms. Species within Stilicopsina are small to medium-sized beetles with the characteristic reduced elytra and exposed abdominal segments typical of rove beetles. The subtribe has been documented in iNaturalist with over 100 observations, indicating some level of field detectability.
Subhaida
Subhaida is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Omaliinae. It was described by Hatch in 1957 and is classified within the tribe Coryphiini and subtribe Coryphiina. The genus contains species found in western North America, particularly in the Pacific coastal region. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles associated with forest floor habitats.
Subhaida ingrata
Subhaida ingrata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described as Pseudohaida ingrata by Hatch in 1957. The species belongs to the subfamily Omaliinae and tribe Coryphiini. It has been documented from western North America, including the Pacific coast and adjacent interior regions.
Sunius
Sunius is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) in the Palaearctic region, currently comprising approximately 138 described species and two subspecies. The genus exhibits notable diversity in Turkey, where 25 species have been documented. Multiple species are micropterous (wingless) and appear to be locally endemic, particularly in Anatolia. Taxonomic revisions continue to expand the known fauna, with recent descriptions from Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.
Sunius debilicornis
Sunius debilicornis is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) first described by Wollaston in 1857. It is currently treated as a synonym of Hypomedon debilicornis in some taxonomic databases, reflecting ongoing nomenclatural revisions within this group. The species is known from the Azores archipelago, with records from five islands. As a rove beetle, it belongs to one of the most diverse families of Coleoptera, characterized by short elytra and exposed abdominal segments.
Sunius melanocephalus
Sunius melanocephalus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae. It is native to the Palearctic region with a broad distribution across Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The species has been introduced to North America, where it is established in parts of Canada and the northeastern United States.
Sunius rufipes
Sunius rufipes is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The genus Sunius belongs to the subfamily Staphylininae, a large and diverse group of predatory beetles characterized by their abbreviated elytra. The specific epithet "rufipes" refers to reddish legs, a common coloration pattern in this genus. Members of Sunius are typically found in various terrestrial habitats where they function as generalist predators.
Syntomium
Syntomium is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Oxytelinae. The genus was established by Curtis in 1828 and contains at least two described species: Syntomium aeneum and Syntomium caucasicum. Members of this genus are found in Europe and North America, with distribution records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Tachinomorphus
Tachinomorphus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae, and tribe Tachinusini. It was established by Kraatz in 1859. The genus is part of a diverse group of small to medium-sized beetles characterized by their shortened elytra and exposed abdominal segments. Species in this genus are poorly documented in public literature, with limited observational records available.
Tachinus axillaris
Tachinus axillaris is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described by Erichson in 1839. The species is known from scattered records across the eastern and central United States, with documented occurrences from Alabama to Texas and north to Illinois and New Jersey. As a member of the subfamily Tachyporinae, it belongs to a group of rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter. The species has been recorded in GBIF with distribution data from 18 states, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Tachinus basalis
Tachinus basalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. It is a Holarctic species with a broad distribution across northern Eurasia and North America. Like other members of the genus Tachinus, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species was described by Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in 1839.
Tachinus crotchii
Crotch's Tachinus
Tachinus crotchii is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1877. It is native to western North America, with documented occurrences in British Columbia, California, Oregon, and Washington. Like other members of the genus Tachinus, it is associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter. The species is named after George Robert Crotch, a British entomologist who collected extensively in North America.
Tachinus fumipennis
Tachinus fumipennis is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) found across much of North America. The species belongs to the genus Tachinus, a group of moderately sized rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and fungi. As with many staphylinids, it likely plays a role in nutrient cycling through its feeding habits, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature. The species is distinguished from congeners by subtle morphological features of the elytra and antennae.
Tachinus limbatus
Tachinus limbatus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. The species occurs across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through the eastern United States. Like other members of Tachinus, it is associated with decaying organic matter. The species was described by Frederick Ernst Melsheimer in 1844.
Tachinus picipes
Tachinus picipes is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Erichson in 1839. It is distributed across eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the subfamily Tachyporinae, it belongs to a group of rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats. The species epithet 'picipes' refers to the pitch-black (piceous) coloration of the legs.
Tachinus rufipes
Tachinus rufipes is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by reddish legs that give the species its name. Originally described by Linnaeus in 1758 from European material, it has since been introduced to North America where it is now established in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. The species belongs to the subfamily Tachyporinae, a group known for rapid movements and association with decaying organic matter.
Tachinusini
Tachinusini is a tribe of rove beetles within the subfamily Tachyporinae. Members are small to medium-sized beetles characterized by compact bodies and relatively short elytra that leave several abdominal segments exposed. The tribe includes the genus Tachinus, which is among the more frequently observed tachyporine groups. Tachinusini species are found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, with many species adapted to cool, moist microhabitats.
Tachyporus abdominalis
Tachyporus abdominalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. It is a small, active predatory beetle with a Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. The species is part of the diverse Tachyporus genus, which contains numerous similar-looking species that are often difficult to distinguish without close examination. Like other members of its genus, it is typically found in moist habitats where it hunts small invertebrates.
Tachyporus atriceps
Tachyporus atriceps is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, with introduced populations in eastern Canada. The species belongs to a genus of predatory beetles commonly found in vegetation and leaf litter. Specific ecological details for this species are sparse in available sources.
Tachyporus browni
Tachyporus browni is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Campbell in 1979. It belongs to the genus Tachyporus, a group of small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in diverse terrestrial habitats. Very few observations of this species have been documented, with only four records in citizen science databases. Its specific biology and ecology remain poorly understood due to limited study.
Tachyporus canadensis
Tachyporus canadensis is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Campbell in 1979. It belongs to the large genus Tachyporus, which contains numerous species of small to medium-sized predatory beetles. The species is known from Canada and the United States.
Tachyporus elegans
Tachyporus elegans is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. The species was described by Horn in 1877. It is a small beetle with limited published information on its specific biology. Members of the genus Tachyporus are generally associated with decaying organic matter and are common in forest floor habitats.
Tachyporus jocosus
Tachyporus jocosus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) native to North America, originally described by Thomas Say in 1832. The species was revised by Campbell (1979), who established neotypes and clarified its taxonomic status by synonymizing several previously described names under T. jocosus. It is placed in the subgenus Tachyporus and has a transcontinental distribution across the United States and Canada. The species exhibits typical tachyporine morphology with characteristic elytral chaetotaxy patterns and male aedeagus structure that distinguish it from congeners.
Tachyporus lecontei
Tachyporus lecontei is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described by Campbell in 1979. The species occurs across northern North America from Canada through the northern United States. Like other members of the genus Tachyporus, it is likely predatory, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is distinguished from congeners primarily by subtle morphological features requiring specialist examination.
Tachyporus maculicollis
Tachyporus maculicollis is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866. The species epithet "maculicollis" refers to spotted or marked coloration on the pronotum or neck region. It belongs to the subfamily Tachyporinae, a group characterized by relatively short elytra and flexible abdominal segments. The genus Tachyporus is widely distributed across the Holarctic region, with this species recorded from North America and parts of Eurasia.
Tachyporus pulchrus
Tachyporus pulchrus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described by Blatchley in 1910. It is native to northeastern North America, with documented occurrences in Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Tachyporus, it likely occupies moist ground-level habitats. The species remains poorly documented in scientific literature.
Tachyusa
Tachyusa is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Tachyusini. The genus was established by Erichson in 1837 and contains more than 20 described species. Members of this genus are small beetles with the characteristic short elytra of rove beetles. The genus is recorded from parts of northern Europe.
Tarphiota fucicola
Tarphiota fucicola is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species is restricted to coastal marine environments in the North Pacific. It was originally described as Tachyusa fucicola by Mäklin in 1852. The specific epithet 'fucicola' refers to association with Fucus, a genus of brown algae.
Tasgius
large rove beetles
Tasgius is a genus of large rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, containing at least 20 described species. Members of this genus are notable for their relatively large size compared to most rove beetles. At least one species, T. winkleri, has been introduced to North America from Europe and has established populations across multiple U.S. states and Canadian provinces. The genus is characterized by morphological features including dilated front tarsi in males.
Tasgius ater
Large rove beetle
Tasgius ater is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, native to Europe and now introduced to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is among the larger species in this diverse beetle family and exhibits typical rove beetle morphology with shortened elytra exposing most of the abdomen. The species has expanded its range significantly in North America since first detected in the 1930s.
Tasgius winkleri
Tasgius winkleri is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) native to Europe that has become established in North America. First reported in New York in 1938, it has since spread to both coasts and westward to Illinois and Colorado. This synanthropic species thrives in human-disturbed habitats and is seldom found far from human activity. Males can be distinguished by their dilated front tarsi (expanded 'feet'). The species was previously confused with T. melanarius under the name Tasgius globulifer until taxonomic revision in 1987.
Tetartopeus
Tetartopeus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, established by Czwalina in 1888. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across Europe, Japan, and North America. One species, Tetartopeus ciceronii, is endemic to Italy. The genus belongs to the subfamily Paederinae and tribe Lathrobiini.