Staphylinidae
Guides
Ochthephilum fracticorne
Ochthephilum fracticorne is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) first described by Paykull in 1800. It belongs to the subfamily Paederinae and is characterized by the abbreviated elytra typical of the family. The species has a broad native distribution across the Palearctic and has been introduced to North America.
Ochthephilus biimpressus
spiny-legged rove beetle
Ochthephilus biimpressus is a species of spiny-legged rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Mäklin in 1852. It is a small rove beetle with characteristic short elytra that leave most of the abdomen exposed, a defining trait of its family. The species is distributed across western North America from Alaska to California and eastward to Colorado and Montana.
Ochthephilus columbiensis
Ochthephilus columbiensis is a species of spiny-legged rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It was described by Hatch in 1957. The species is distributed across western North America, including the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and adjacent Canadian provinces.
Ochthephilus planus
Ochthephilus planus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Oxytelinae. This small beetle is distributed across northern North America, with records from Canada (including Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec, and Yukon) and the United States (including Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming), as well as the Russian Far East. The species was first described by J.L. LeConte in 1861 based on specimens from North America. Like other members of the Oxytelinae, it is associated with moist habitats and organic matter decomposition.
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.
Ocypus aeneocephalus
Ocypus aeneocephalus is a species of large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is native to Europe and has been introduced to western North America, including British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA. The species is part of the hyperdiverse rove beetle genus Ocypus, which contains numerous species with varied ecological roles.
Ocypus nitens
Ocypus nitens is a large, adventive rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Staphylininae, native to Central Europe and now established in eastern North America. First reported from the Americas in 1944, it remained restricted to New England for decades before rapidly expanding its range after 2000. The species was first detected in Canada in 2016 through citizen science contributions to BugGuide, representing the first Canadian record. It is among the largest and most conspicuous rove beetles in its introduced range, making it relatively easy to detect.
Ocypus olens
Devil's Coach-horse Beetle, Devil's Coach-horse, Devil's Footman, Devil's Steed
Ocypus olens, commonly known as the Devil's Coach-horse Beetle, is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. Originally described as Staphylinus olens in 1764, this species has a long history of association with folklore and superstition across Europe, particularly in Ireland where it was known as 'Dar Daol' (the Devil's beetle). The beetle is a formidable predator with an intimidating defensive posture—raising its curled abdomen like a scorpion when threatened. In North America, it has been introduced to California where field studies suggest it may serve as a biological control agent for the brown garden snail (Helix aspersa), an agricultural pest.
Ocyusa
Ocyusa is a genus of rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) in the tribe Oxypodini. It was described by Kraatz in 1856. The genus contains at least two described species: Ocyusa apicalis and Ocyusa argus. Species are recorded from Europe and North America.
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.
Oligota
Oligota is a genus of small rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. Multiple species have been documented as predators of mites, particularly spider mites (Tetranychus urticae), and are studied for their potential use in biological control. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with species recorded across North America, Europe, and Asia. Individual species show specialized predatory behaviors and habitat associations ranging from decaying organic matter to agricultural crop environments.
Oligota chrysopyga
Oligota chrysopyga is a small rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae, characterized by its compact body and metallic coloration. The species has been introduced to multiple regions outside its native range, including Europe, Canada, and the United States. Its wide distribution across tropical and subtropical zones suggests human-mediated dispersal, though specific ecological impacts remain poorly documented.
Olisthaerus
Olisthaerus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, classified in the subfamily Olisthaerinae. The genus was established by Dejean in 1833 and includes at least two recognized species: O. megacephalus and O. substriatus. These beetles are found in Europe and North America. The genus is characterized by distinct morphological features that set it apart from other staphylinid genera.
Olophrum
Olophrum is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) distributed across Eurasia and North America. The genus contains at least seven recognized North American species, including four Holarctic species (O. latum, O. boreale, O. consimile, O. rotundicolle), one eastern North American endemic (O. obtectum), and two western North American species (O. cascadense, O. idahoense). Species-level taxonomy has been revised with lectotype designations and synonymies established.
Olophrum consimile
Olophrum consimile is a Holarctic rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) found across northern North America and Eurasia. First described by Gyllenhal in 1810, this species has accumulated multiple junior synonyms due to morphological variability. The species is part of a genus of small, ground-dwelling beetles associated with moist forest habitats.
Olophrum latum
Olophrum latum is a holarctic rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) first described by Mäklin in 1853. It is one of seven North American species in the genus Olophrum, distinguished from congeners by specific morphological features detailed in taxonomic revisions. The species was previously known under the synonym O. brevicolle Bernhauer. It occurs across northern regions of North America and Eurasia.
Olophrum obtectum
Olophrum obtectum is a rove beetle in the subfamily Omaliinae, endemic to eastern North America. It was formally revised and recognized as distinct from holarctic congeners in a 1983 taxonomic treatment. The species is one of seven North American Olophrum species and is distinguished by its restricted eastern distribution.
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.
Omalium
Omalium is a genus of ocellate rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Omaliinae) containing at least 70 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. The genus has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision, with species organized into morphologically-based species groups including the Acutangulum, Amplissimum, Caesum, Oxyacanthae, and Rivulare groups. Recent revisions have described numerous new species from the Himalayan region, China, Siberia, and the Far East.
Omalium
An undescribed species within the rove beetle genus Omalium, recognized as distinct but awaiting formal taxonomic description. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles characterized by abbreviated elytra that expose multiple abdominal segments. As with other Omalium species, it likely inhabits moist, decaying organic matter where it functions as a generalist predator or scavenger. The formal description and naming of this species remain pending.
Omalium rivulare
Omalium rivulare is a Holarctic ocellate rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. Originally described as Staphylinus rivularis by Paykull in 1789, it serves as the type species for the Rivulare species group within the genus Omalium. The species has been recorded across Europe, northern Asia, and has been introduced to North America. Synonymy with O. kabakovi was established in 2025.
Omalonomus relictus
Omalonomus relictus is a rove beetle species in the family Staphylinidae, described by Campbell and Peck in 1990. The species has been recorded from western Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan) and the northwestern United States (Utah, Washington). As a member of the subfamily Omaliinae, it belongs to a group of rove beetles often associated with forest floor habitats and decaying organic matter.
Omalorphanus aenigma
Omalorphanus aenigma is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Campbell and Chandler in 1987. It belongs to the subfamily Omaliinae and tribe Anthophagini. The species is known from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, with records from Oregon.
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.
Orochares suteri
Orochares suteri is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) described by Campbell in 1984. It belongs to the subfamily Omaliinae, a group of small to medium-sized staphylinids often associated with decaying organic matter and forest floor habitats. The species is known from a limited number of records in the northeastern and midwestern United States.
Oropodes chumash
Oropodes chumash is a species of ant-loving beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described in 2011 by Chandler & Caterino. The species epithet refers to the Chumash people, indigenous to coastal California. Like other pselaphines, it is likely associated with ant colonies, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is known from California, USA.
Orus
Orus is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Paederinae, described by Casey in 1885. The genus belongs to the tribe Lathrobiini and subtribe Scopaeina. These beetles are part of the diverse Staphylinidae family, which is one of the largest families of beetles. Very little specific information is available about the biology or ecology of this particular genus.
Orus ferrugineus
Orus ferrugineus is a species of rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Paederinae, described by Casey in 1905. The species is known from the western United States, with records from Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. As a member of the large rove beetle family, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments typical of the group, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Orus fraternus
Orus fraternus is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Henry Clinton Fall in 1901. It belongs to the genus Orus within the tribe Lathrobiini. Very little is known about this species beyond its taxonomic placement and type locality in California.
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.
Osorius planifrons
unmargined rove beetle
Osorius planifrons is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Osoriinae. It belongs to a group commonly referred to as unmargined rove beetles. The species has been recorded in parts of North and Central America, with documented occurrences in the southeastern and southwestern United States and Mexico. Specific ecological and behavioral details remain limited in published sources.
Othius
A genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the tribe Othiini, characterized by elongate bodies and reduced elytra typical of the family. The genus currently includes approximately 136 species and subspecies distributed across the Palaearctic region. Taxonomic revisions have revealed distinct Western and Eastern Palaearctic species groups, separated by the Caspian Sea, with high species diversity in the Himalayas, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Taiwan.
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.
Oxybleptes davisi
A small rove beetle in the tribe Xantholinini, first recorded in Minnesota in 2014, extending its known range considerably westward from previous records in the eastern United States. The species was described by Notman in 1924.
Oxypoda acuminata
Oxypoda acuminata is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Aleocharinae. It is a small, inconspicuous beetle with a Palearctic distribution, recorded across much of Europe and extending into Russia and parts of the Caucasus. The species is one of many in the large genus Oxypoda, which contains over 300 described species. Like other aleocharine rove beetles, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Oxypoda chantali
Oxypoda chantali is a species of rove beetle described from Canada and Alaska in 2006. It belongs to the large genus Oxypoda within the subfamily Aleocharinae. The species was established as part of a comprehensive revision that reorganized the North American Oxypoda fauna into 14 species groups. Like other members of its genus, it is a small-bodied staphylinid beetle with reduced elytra.
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.
Oxyporinae
Cross-toothed Rove Beetles
Oxyporinae is a subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing a single genus, Oxyporus, with approximately 132 species distributed worldwide. These beetles are obligate fungivores with a life cycle tightly linked to fungi. They are notable for their distinctive mandibular and mouthpart morphology.
Oxyporus elegans
Oxyporus elegans is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by J.L. LeConte in 1877. It belongs to the subfamily Oxyporinae, a group characterized by their association with fungal habitats. The species is known from limited distribution records in the southern United States.
Oxyporus femoralis
Oxyporus femoralis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1802. The species belongs to the subfamily Oxyporinae, a group of fungi-associated beetles. It has been recorded across eastern North America from Canada to the southern United States.
Oxyporus kiteleyi
Oxyporus kiteleyi is a rove beetle in the subfamily Oxyporinae, described by Campbell in 1978. The species is known from a limited number of records in eastern North America, spanning from Georgia in the southern United States to Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada. Like other members of Oxyporus, it is likely associated with fungal fruiting bodies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely encountered, with only three observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Oxyporus lateralis
Oxyporus lateralis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, originally described by Gravenhorst in 1802. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Pseudoxyporus lateralis, reflecting taxonomic revisions within the Oxyporinae subfamily. It is distributed across eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of Oxyporinae, it is associated with fungal habitats, particularly mushrooms.
Oxyporus major
Oxyporus major is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Oxyporinae. It is found across eastern North America, from Canada to the southeastern United States. As a member of the Oxyporinae, it is associated with fungal habitats, particularly polypore bracket fungi.
Oxyporus mexicanus
Oxyporus mexicanus is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Oxyporinae. The genus Oxyporus is characterized by distinctive morphological adaptations for mycophagy, including modified mouthparts for feeding on fungal substrates. This species was described by Fauvel in 1865 and is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Oxyporus quinquemaculatus
A rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, currently classified under the genus Pseudoxyporus. The species name refers to five spots. This small beetle belongs to the subfamily Oxyporinae, a group of fungi-associated rove beetles.
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.
Oxytelus sculptus
Oxytelus sculptus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, described by Gravenhorst in 1806. It belongs to the tribe Oxytelini within the subfamily Oxytelinae. The species has been documented in the Azores archipelago based on distribution records. As with other members of the genus Oxytelus, it is a small beetle with the characteristic abbreviated elytra of staphylinid beetles.