Proteininae is a subfamily of
Staphylinidae
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 ...
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[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, FL. ix + 443 p.]
Anatomy
*Broad bodied.
*Small, under 3 mm.
*Elytra long, covering first visible abdominal tergite.
*Tarsi 5-5-5 in NA, 4-4-4 in some southern hemisphere taxa.
Image: Megarthrus americanus 0172534 dorsal.tif, ''Megarthrus americanus''
Image: Proteinus sp 0157243 dorsal.tif, ''Proteinus'' sp.
Ecology
*Habitat: found in fungi, under bark, in decaying vegetation, forest leaf litter.
*Collection method: sift/Berlese leaf litter.
*Biology: saprophages or mycophages.
Systematics
Two genera and 22 species in North America.
References
External links
*Proteininae at Bugguide.net
Staphylinidae
Polyphaga subfamilies
{{Staphylinidae-stub