Steninae
Guides
Dianous
Dianous is a genus of rove beetles in the subfamily Steninae, characterized by their specialized ability to glide across water surfaces. All representatives of this genus possess pygidial glands that secrete alkaloid and terpene compounds, including stenusine and related molecules, which reduce water surface tension to enable rapid skimming locomotion. The genus has been documented across Europe, Asia, and North America, with particular taxonomic attention in China and Turkey where multiple new species have been described in recent years. Dianous species are specialist predators of small invertebrates.
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.
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 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 croceatus
Stenus croceatus is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, family Staphylinidae. The species was described by Casey in 1884 and occurs in eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses specialized mouthparts adapted for predation. The species is part of a large and diverse genus containing over 3,000 described species worldwide.
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 femoratus
Stenus femoratus is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, first described by Thomas Say in 1831. Like other members of the genus Stenus, it possesses specialized labial structures that can be everted using blood pressure to capture prey. The species is broadly distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada and numerous U.S. states.
Stenus flavicornis
water skater
Stenus flavicornis is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, commonly referred to as a water skater. It was described by Erichson in 1840 and is native to North America. Members of the genus Stenus are known for their ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions that reduce surface tension. Some species in this genus are also notable for their unique prey-capture mechanism involving eversible mouthparts.
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 laccophilus
Stenus laccophilus is a rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, first described by Casey in 1884. Members of this genus possess specialized hunting adaptations including the ability to eject mouthparts using blood pressure to capture prey. The species occurs across northern North America including Canada and the northern United States.
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 morio
Stenus morio is a species of rove beetle in the subfamily Steninae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1806. It belongs to a genus noted for specialized predatory adaptations, including the ability to use blood pressure to eject mouthparts for capturing prey. The species has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Asia, and North America.
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.