The Aleocharinae are one of the largest subfamilies of rove beetles, containing over 12,000 species. Previously subject to large-scale debate whether the subfamily deserved the familial status, it is now considered one of the largest subfamilies of

rove beetle The rove beetles are a family (biology), family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal segments exposed. With over 66,000 species in thousand ...

s.James S. Ashe (1947–2005
Tree of life
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Description

The Aleocharinae are generally small to minute beetles, as they can reach a maximum length of about , but usually they are long, with a few species of , among the smallest of beetles. The body is usually slender, often densely and finely punctured; the head is more or less round and the color may be light or dark brown, reddish-brown, or black, sometimes with contrasting colors of red, yellow, and black.

Anatomy

Because of the size of the subfamily, their anatomy is extremely variable. However, a few key features are shared by all rove beetles. All members have antennae with 10 or 11 segments. The antennal insertion is posterior to a line drawn between the anterior margins of the eyes or anterior to a line drawn between the anterior margins of the eyes. The tarsal segments vary from 2-2-2 to 4-5-5.

Distribution and habitat

Rove beetles belonging to this subfamily are distributed throughout the world in almost all terrestrial habitats. They are commonly predators in soil communities and leaf litter, frequently inquilines in ant and termite nests or associated with mushrooms and fungi.

Ecology

This subfamily is common on all terrestrial habitats. It is collected through several methods, including the use of UV light, emergence chambers, sifting, using Berlese organic material, and pitfall traps. The biology of the subfamily is complex. Many species are highly specialized, thus are prone to extinction. Free-living, parasitic, herbivorous, carnivorous, fungivorous, flying, walking, running, swimming, social, and solitary forms are known, but their life histories are almost unknown at the species level.

Systematics

This subfamily is one of the largest rove beetle subfamilies, containing 52 tribes, over 1000 genera, and over 12000 described species (about 1385 known from North America). This subfamily is a taxonomically difficult groups of beetles.

Tribes and selected genera

Below is a list of all the tribes and some selected genera. * Tribe Actocharini Bernhauer & Schubert, 1911 * Tribe Aenictoteratini Kistner, 1993 * Tribe Akatastopsisini Pace, 2000 * Tribe Aleocharini Fleming, 1821 ** '' Aleochara'' Gravenhorst, 1802 ** '' Tinotus'' Sharp, 1883 * Tribe Antillusini Pace, 2012 * Tribe Athetini Casey, 1910 ** '' Acrotona'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Actophylla'' Bernhauer, 1908 ** '' Alevonota'' Thomson, 1856 ** '' Alianta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Aloconota'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Amischa'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Anopleta'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Atheta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Brundinia'' Tottenham, 1949 ** '' Cadaverota'' Yosii & Sawada, 1976 ** '' Callicerus'' Gravenhorst, 1802 ** '' Coprothassa'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Dacrila'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Dadobia'' Thomson, 1856 ** '' Dilacra'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Dinaraea'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Disopora'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Dochmonota'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Ecitodaemon'' Reichensperger, 1939 ** '' Ecitomorpha'' Wasmann, 1889 ** '' Ecitophya'' Wasmann, 1900 ** '' Ecitoschneirla'' Kistner & Jacobson, 1990 ** '' Ecitosymbia'' Bruch, 1923 ** '' Ecitoxenia'' Wasmann, 1900 ** '' Geostiba'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Halobrecta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Hydrosmecta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Leptostiba'' Pace, 1985 ** '' Liogluta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Lundbergia'' Muona, 1975 ** '' Lyprocorrhe'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Nehemitropia'' Lohse, 1971 ** '' Ousipalia'' Des Gozis, 1886 ** '' Pachnida'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Pachyatheta'' Munster, 1930 ** '' Paranopleta'' Brundin, 1954 ** '' Philhygra'' Mulsant & Rey, 1873 ** '' Pycnota'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Retteneciton'' Kistner & Jacobson, 1990 ** '' Schistoglossa'' Kraatz, 1856 ** '' Seeverseciton'' Kistner & Jacobson, 1990 ** '' Thamiaraea'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Tomoglossa'' Kraatz, 1856 ** '' Trichiusa'' Casey, 1856 ** '' Trichomicra'' Brundin, 1941 * Tribe Australestesini Pace, 2016 * Tribe Autaliini Thomson, 1859 ** '' Autalia'' Samouelle, 1819 * Tribe Boreocyphini Klimaszewski & Langor, 2011 * Tribe Cordobanini Bernhauer, 1910 * Tribe Corotocini Fenyes, 1918 **'' Abroteles'' **'' Affinoptochus'' **'' Australoptochus'' **'' Austrospirachtha'' **'' Cavifronexus'' **'' Coatonachthodes'' **'' Corotoca'' **'' Eburniogaster'' **'' Eburniola'' **'' Eutermitoptochus'' **'' Fonsechellus'' **'' Fulleroxenus'' **'' Hospitaliptochus'' **'' Idiogaster'' **'' Idioptochus'' **'' Lacessiptochus'' **'' Leucoptochus'' **'' Melanoptochus'' **'' Millotoca'' **'' Mormellus'' **'' Nasutimimus'' **'' Nasutiptochus'' **'' Nasutitella'' **'' Neoguinella'' **'' Neotermitogaster'' **'' Nigriphilus'' **'' Oecidiophilus'' **'' Oideprosoma'' **'' Paracorotoca'' **'' Parvidolum'' **'' Perlinctus'' **'' Ptocholellus'' **'' Reginamimus'' **'' Rhadinoxenus'' **'' Sphuridaethes'' **'' Spirachtha'' **'' Spirachthodes'' **'' Termella'' **'' Termitella'' **'' Termitellodes'' **'' Termitochara'' **'' Termitocupidus'' **'' Termitogaster'' **'' Termitoiceus'' **'' Termitoides'' **'' Termitomimus'' **'' Termitomorpha'' **'' Termitonasus'' **'' Termitonidia'' **'' Termitophya'' **'' Termitopithus'' **'' Termitoptochus' **'' Termitoptocinus'' **'' Termitopula'' **'' Termitopullus'' **'' Termitosius'' **'' Termitosuga'' **'' Termitosyne'' **'' Termitosynodes'' **'' Termitozophilus'' **'' Termituncula'' **'' Thyreoxenus'' **'' Timeparthenus'' **'' Trachopeplus'' **'' Tumulipcinus'' **'' Xenogaster'' **'' Xenopelta'' * Tribe Crematoxenini Mann 1921 ** '' Beyeria'' ** '' Neobeyeria'' * Tribe Cryptonotopseini Pace, 2003 * Tribe Diestotini Mulsant & Rey, 1871 * Tribe Diglottini Jacobson, 1909 ** '' Diglotta'' Champion, 1887 ** '' Paradiglotta'' Ashe & Ahn, 2005 * Tribe Digrammini Fauvel, 1900 ** '' Digrammus'' Fauvel, 1900 * Tribe Dorylogastrini Wasmann 1916 ** '' Berghoffia'' Kistner, 2003 ** '' Dorylocratus'' ** '' Dorylogaster'' * Tribe Dorylomimini Wasmann 1916 ** '' Dorylocratus'' ** '' Dorylomimus'' ** '' Dorylonannus'' ** '' Jeanneliusa'' * Tribe Drepanoxenini Kistner & Watson, 1972 * Tribe Ecitogastrini ** '' Ecitogaster'' * Tribe Eusteniamorphini Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926 * Tribe Falagriini Mulsant & Rey, 1873 ** '' Anaulacaspis'' Ganglbauer, 1895 ** '' Borboropora'' Kraatz, 1862 ** '' Cordalia'' Jacobs, 1925 ** '' Falagria'' Samouelle, 1819 ** '' Falagrioma'' Casey, 1906 ** '' Flavipennis'' Cameron, 1920 ** '' Myrmecocephalus'' MacLeay, 1871 ** '' Myrmecopora'' Saulcy, 1865 * Tribe Feldini Kistner, 1972 * Tribe Geostibini Seevers, 1978 * Tribe Gymnusini Heer, 1839 ** '' Deinopsis'' Matthews, 1838 ** '' Gymnusa'' Gravenhorst, 1806 * Tribe Himalusini Klimaszewski, Pace & Center, 2010 * Tribe Homalotini Heer, 1839 ** Subtribe Gyrophaenina Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Agaricochara'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Encephalus'' Kirby, 1832 *** '' Gyrophaena'' Mannerheim, 1830 ** Subtribe Bolitocharina Thomson, 1859 *** '' Bolitochara'' Mannerheim, 1830 *** '' Euryusa'' Erichson, 1837 *** '' Heterota'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 *** '' Leptusa'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Phymatura'' J. Sahlberg, 1876 *** '' Tachyusida'' Mulsant & Rey, 1872 ** Subtribe Silusina Fenyes, 1918 *** '' Silusa'' Erichson, 1837 ** Subtribe Homalotina Heer, 1839 *** '' Anomognathus'' Solier, 1849 *** '' Homalota'' Mannerheim, 1830 *** '' Pseudomicrodota'' Machulka, 1935 *** '' Thecturota'' Casey, 1893 ** Subtribe Rhopalocerina Reitter, 1909 *** '' Clavigera'' Scriba, 1859 *** '' Cyphea'' Fauvel, 1863 * Tribe Hoplandriini Casey, 1910 * Tribe Hygronomini Thomson, 1859 ** '' Hygronoma'' Erichson, 1837 * Tribe Hypocyphtini Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 (= Oligotini Thomson, 1859) ** '' Anacyptus'' Horn, 1877 ** '' Cypha'' Samouelle, 1819 ** '' Holobus'' Solier, 1849 ** '' Oligota'' Mannerheim, 1830 * Tribe Leucocraspedini Fenyes, 1921 * Tribe Liparocephalini Fenyes, 1918 * Tribe Lomechusini Fleming, 1821 (= Myrmedoniini Thomson, 1867) ** '' Drusilla'' Samouelle, 1819 ** '' Lomechusa'' Gravenhorst, 1806 ** '' Lomechusoides'' Tottenham, 1939 ('' Lomechusoides strumosus'') ** '' Maschwitzia'' ** '' Meronera'' ** '' Myrmedonota'' ** '' Zyras'' Stephens, 1835 * Tribe Masuriini Cameron, 1939 * Tribe Mesoporini Cameron, 1959 * Tribe Mimanommatini Wasmann, 1912 * Tribe Mimecitini Wasmann, 1917 * Tribe Myllaenini Ganglbauer, 1895 ** '' Myllaena'' Erichson, 1837 * Tribe Oxypodini Thomson, 1859 ** Subtribe Oxypodina Thomson, 1859 *** '' Acrostiba'' Thomson, 1858 *** '' Amarochara'' Thomson, 1858 *** '' Calodera'' Mannerheim, 1830 *** '' Cephalocousya'' Lohse, 1971 *** '' Chanoma'' Blackwelder, 1952 *** '' Chilomorpha'' Krasa, 1914 *** '' Crataraea'' Thomson, 1858 *** '' Drusilla'' Blackwelder, 1952 *** '' Dexiogya'' Thomson, 1858 *** '' Haploglossa'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Hygropora'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Ilyobates'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Ischnoglossa'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Mniusa'' Mulsant & Rey, 1875 *** '' Ocalea'' Erichson, 1837 *** '' Ocyusa'' Kraatz, 1856 *** '' Oxypoda'' Mannerheim, 1830 *** '' Parocyusa'' Bernhauer, 1902 *** '' Pentanota'' Bernhauer, 1905 *** '' Phloeopora'' Erichson, 1837 *** '' Polylobus'' *** '' Poromniusa'' Ganglbauer, 1895 *** '' Pyroglossa'' Bernhauer, 1901 *** '' Stichoglossa'' Fairmaire & Laboulbene, 1856 *** '' Thiasophila'' Kraatz, 1856 ('' Thiasophila angulata'') ** Subtribe Dinardina Mulsant & Rey, 1873 *** '' Dinarda'' Samouelle, 1819 ** Subtribe Meoticina Seevers, 1978 *** '' Meotica'' Mulsant & Rey, 1873 ** Subtribe Tachyusina Thomson, 1859 *** '' Brachyusa'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 *** '' Dasygnypeta'' Lohse, 1974 *** '' Gnypeta'' Thomson, 1858 *** '' Ischnopoda'' Stephens, 1835 * Tribe Oxypodinini Fenyes, 1921 * Tribe Paglini Newton & Thayer, 1992 * Tribe Paradoxenusini Bruch, 1937 * Tribe Pediculotini Ádám, 1987 * Tribe Philotermitini *** '' Philotermes'' Kraatz, 1857 *** '' Pseudophilotermes'' Bernhauer, 1934 * Tribe Phyllodinardini Wasmann, 1916 * Tribe Phytosini Thomson, 1867 ** ''

Arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

'' Fauvel, 1862 ** '' Phytosus'' Curtis, 1838 * Tribe Placusini Mulsant & Rey, 1871 ** '' Placusa'' Erichson, 1837 * Tribe Pronomaeini Mulsant & Rey, 1873 * Tribe Pseudoperinthini Cameron, 1939 * Tribe Pygostenini Fauvel, 1899 * Tribe Sahlbergiini Kistner, 1993 * Tribe Sceptobiini Seevers, 1978 ** '' Dinardilla'' Wasmann, 1901 ** '' Sceptobius'' Sharp, 1883 * Tribe Skatitoxenini Kistner & Pasteels, 1969 * Tribe Tachyusini Thomson, C. G., 1859 * Tribe Taxicerini Lohse, 1989 * Tribe Termitodiscini Wasmann, 1904 ** '' Termitodiscus'' Wasmann, 1899 ** '' Termitogerrus'' Bernhauer, 1932 * Tribe Termitohospitini Seevers, 1941 ** '' Coptotermocola'' Kanao, Eldredge & Maruyama, 2012 ** '' Neotermitosocius'' Kanao, Eldredge & Maruyama, 2012 ** '' Termitobra'' Seevers, 1957 ** '' Termitohospes'' Seevers, 1941 ** '' Termitosocius'' Seevers, 1941 ** '' Termitosodalis'' Seevers, 1941 * Tribe Termitonannini Fenyes, 1918 * Tribe Termitopaediini Seevers, 1957 Cladistic analysis and taxonomic revision of the termitophilous tribe Termitopaediini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) with remarks on their evolution and the behavior of some species.
Sociobiology (1977). Volume: 2, Issue: 4, Pages: 297—304 ** '' Coatonipulex'' Kistner, 1977 ** ''

Dioxeuta ''Dioxeuta'' is a genus of aleocharine rove beetle The rove beetles are a family (biology), family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal ...

'' Sharp, 1899 ** '' Macrotermophila'' Kistner, 1973 ** '' Macrotoxenus'' Kistner, 1968 ** '' Paratermitopulex'' Kistner, 1977 ** '' Physomilitaris'' Kistner, 1977 ** '' Protermitobia'' Seevers, 1957 ** '' Termitolinus'' Wasmann, 1911 ** '' Termitonda'' Seevers, 1957 ** '' Termitopaedia'' Wasmann, 1911 ** '' Termitotecna'' Wasmann, 1912 ** '' Termitotropha'' Wasmann, 1899 ** '' Termozyras'' Cameron, 1930 * Tribe Termitusini Fenyes, 1918 ** '' Termitana'' Fairmaire, 1899 ** '' Termitoecia'' Bernhauer, 1920 ** '' Termitospectrum'' Mann, 1926 ** '' Termitusa'' Wasmann, 1905 ** '' Termitusodes '' Pasteels, 1967 * Tribe Trichopseniini LeConte & Horn 1883 * Tribe Trilobitideini Fauvel, 1899 ** '' Trilobitideus'' Raffray, 1898

Gallery

Image: Aleochara lata 0171845 dorsal.tif, '' Aleochara lata'' Image: Xenodusa cava 0263474 dorsal.jpg, '' Xenodusa cava'' Image: Xenistusa sp - Feliciana Preserve 12 March 2006.tif, '' Xenistusa'' sp. File:Bolitochara lucida - 2014-06-03.webm, '' Bolitochara lucida'' on fungus File:Ischnoglossa prolixa (Gravenhorst, 1802) genital (3724331920).jpg, Male (left) and female genitals of '' Ischnoglossa prolix''

Bibliography

*Ferro, M. L., M. L. Gimmel, K. E. Harms, and C. E. Carlton. 2012a. Comparison of the Coleoptera communities in leaf litter and rotten wood in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Insecta Mundi 259: 1–58

*Newton, A. F., Jr., M. K. Thayer, J. S. Ashe, and D. S. Chandler. 2001. 22. Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802. p. 272–418. In: R. H. Arnett, Jr., and M. C. Thomas (eds.). American beetles, Volume 1. CRC Press; Boca Raton, Florida. ix + 443 p. *Ashe, J. S. 2005: Phylogeny of the tachyporine group subfamilies and 'basal' lineages of the Aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) based on larval and adult characteristics. Systematic entomology, 30: 3–37. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2004.00258. *Thomas, J. C. 2009: A preliminary molecular investigation of aleocharine phylogeny (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 102: 189–195. doi: 10.1603/008.102.0201

References

External links

Aleocharinae at Bugguide.net.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1953097 Aleocharinae, Articles containing video clips Beetles described in 1821 Beetles of North America Beetle subfamilies Extant Cenomanian first appearances