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 (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal segments exposed. With roughly 63,000 species in thousands of genera, the ...

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 Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength from 10 nm (with a corresponding frequency around 30 PHz) to 400 nm (750 THz), shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation i ...

, emergence chambers, sifting, using Berlese organic material, and

pitfall traps A pitfall trap is a trapping pit for small animals, such as insects, amphibians and reptiles. Pitfall traps are a sampling technique, mainly used for ecology studies and ecologic pest control. Animals that enter a pitfall trap are unable to esca ...

. 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 Aleocharini is the type tribe of the subfamily Aleocharinae. It contains three subtribes, Aleocharina, Compactopediina and the Hodoxenina. The tribe contains 16 genera and over 460 species In biology, a species is the basic unit of clas ...

Fleming, 1821 ** ''

Aleochara ''Aleochara'' is a genus in the beetle family Staphylinidae, the Rove beetles; larvae of Staphylinidae occur in many assorted ecological roles, most being scavengers, predators or carrion feeders, but the larvae of at least those species of '' ...

'' Gravenhorst, 1802 ** '' Tinotus'' Sharp, 1883 * Tribe

Athetini Athetini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal segment ...

Casey, 1910 ** ''

Acrotona ''Acrotona'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal seg ...

'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Actophylla'' Bernhauer, 1908 ** '' Alevonota'' Thomson, 1856 ** '' Alianta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Aloconota'' Thomson, 1858 ** ''

Amischa ''Amischa'' is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Staphylinidae. The genus was described in 1858 by Carl Gustaf Thomson Carl Gustaf Thomson (13 October 1824, in Malmöhus – 20 September 1899, in Lund) was a Swedish entomologist ...

'' Thomson, 1858 ** ''

Anopleta ''Atheta'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 640 described species in ''Atheta''. See also * List of Atheta species This is a list of 449 species in '' Atheta'', a genus of rove beetles in the family ...

'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** ''

Atheta ''Atheta'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 640 described species in ''Atheta''. See also * List of Atheta species This is a list of 449 species in '' Atheta'', a genus of rove beetles in the family ...

'' Thomson, 1858 ** ''

Brundinia ''Brundinia'' is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdomi ...

'' Tottenham, 1949 ** ''

Cadaverota ''Atheta'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 640 described species in ''Atheta''. See also * List of Atheta species This is a list of 449 species in '' Atheta'', a genus of rove beetles in the family ...

'' Yosii & Sawada, 1976 ** '' Callicerus'' Gravenhorst, 1802 ** ''

Coprothassa ''Atheta'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 640 described species in ''Atheta''. See also * List of Atheta species This is a list of 449 species in '' Atheta'', a genus of rove beetles in the family ...

'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Dacrila'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Dadobia'' Thomson, 1856 ** '' Dilacra'' Thomson, 1858 ** ''

Dinaraea ''Dinaraea'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal se ...

'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Disopora'' Thomson, 1859 ** '' Dochmonota'' Thomson, 1859 ** ''

Geostiba ''Geostiba'' is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Staphylinidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe, Australia and Northern America. Species: * ''Geostiba acifera'' Assing, 1999 * ''Geostiba aculeata'' (Coiffait, 1968) *' ...

'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Halobrecta'' Thomson, 1858 ** ''

Hydrosmecta ''Hydrosmecta'' is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Staphylinidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe and Northern America. Species: * '' Hydrosmecta abyssina'' Pace, 1986 * '' Hydrosmecta angustissima'' (Wollaston, 1864 ...

'' Thomson, 1858 ** ''

Leptostiba ''Leptostiba'' is a genus of rove beetles, described in 1985 by the Italian entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition o ...

'' Pace, 1985 ** '' Liogluta'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Lundbergia'' Muona, 1975 ** '' Lyprocorrhe'' Thomson, 1859 ** ''

Nehemitropia ''Nehemitropia'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdomina ...

'' Lohse, 1971 ** ''

Ousipalia ''Ousipalia'' is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdom ...

'' Des Gozis, 1886 ** '' Pachnida'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Pachyatheta'' Munster, 1930 ** '' Paranopleta'' Brundin, 1954 ** '' Philhygra'' Mulsant & Rey, 1873 ** '' Pycnota'' Mulsant & Rey, 1874 ** '' Schistoglossa'' Kraatz, 1856 ** '' Thamiaraea'' Thomson, 1858 ** '' Tomoglossa'' Kraatz, 1856 ** ''

Trichiusa ''Trichiusa'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are about 15 described species in ''Trichiusa'', found in North America and Europe. Species These 15 species belong to the genus ''Trichiusa'': * ''Trichiusa columbica' ...

'' Casey, 1856 ** '' Trichomicra'' Brundin, 1941 * Tribe Autaliini Thomson, 1859 ** '' Autalia'' Samouelle, 1819 * Tribe Cordobanini Bernhauer, 1910 * Tribe Corotocini Fenyes, 1918 * Tribe Crematoxenini Mann 1921 ** '' Beyeria'' ** '' Neobeyeria'' * Tribe Cryptonotopseini Pace, 2003 * Tribe Deinopsini Sharp, 1883 ** '' Deinopsis'' Matthews, 1838 * Tribe Diestotini Mulsant & Rey, 1871 * Tribe Diglottini Jacobson, 1909 ** '' Diglotta'' Champion, 1887 ** '' Paradiglotta'' Ashe & Ahn, 2005 * Tribe Diestotini Mulsant & Rey, 1871 * 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 EcitochariniKistner D. H. 1990
Cladistic analysis and taxonomic revision of the ecitophilous tribe Ecitocharini with studies of their behavior and evolution (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae).
Sociobiology (1990). Volume: 17, Issue: 3, Pages: 333—480 ** '' Ecitodaemon'' ** '' Ecitomorpha'' ** '' Ecitophya'' ** '' Ecitoschneirla'' ** '' Ecitosymbia'' (='' Ecitoxenides'') ** '' Ecitoxenia'' ** '' Ecitoxenides'' ** '' Retteneciton'' ** '' Seeverseciton'' * Tribe Ecitogastrini ** '' Ecitogaster'' * Tribe Eusteniamorphini Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926 * Tribe Falagriini Mulsant & Rey, 1873 ** '' Anaulacaspis'' Ganglbauer, 1895 ** '' Borboropora'' Kraatz, 1862 ** '' Cordalia'' Jacobs, 1925 ** ''

Falagria ''Falagria'' is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 30 described species in ''Falagria''. Species These 32 species belong to the genus ''Falagria'': * ''Falagria alutipennis'' Cameron, 1939 * ''Falagria angu ...

'' Samouelle, 1819 ** '' Falagrioma'' Casey, 1906 ** '' Flavipennis'' Cameron, 1920 ** '' Myrmecocephalus'' MacLeay, 1871 ** '' Myrmecopora'' Saulcy, 1865 * Tribe Feldini Kistner, 1972 * Tribe Gymnusini Heer, 1839 ** '' 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 Lomechusini Fleming, 1821 (= Myrmedoniini Thomson, 1867) ** ''

Drusilla Drusilla is a female given name deriving from the Roman cognomen Drusilla. History The name has its origin from the Latin cognomen (and later praenomen) ''Drusus'' which itself derived from the Greek ''drosos'' (dew). The diminutive "illa" t ...

'' 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 *** ''

'' 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 platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

'' 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 Termitodiscini ** '' Termitodiscus'' ** '' Termitogerrus'' * Tribe Termitohospitini ** '' Coptotermocola'' ** '' Neotermitosocius'' ** '' Termitobra'' ** '' Termitohospes'' ** '' Termitosocius'' ** '' Termitosodalis'' * Tribe Termitonannini * Tribe TermitopaediiniKistner D. H. 1977
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'' 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 ** '' Termitana'' ** '' Termitoecia'' ** '' Termitospectrum'' ** '' Termitusa'' ** '' Termitusodes '' * Tribe Trichopseniini LeConte & Horn 1883 * Tribe Trilobitideini ** '' Trilobitideus''

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