Scydmaeninae

Scydmaeninae are a subfamily of small beetles, commonly called ant-like stone beetles or scydmaenines. These beetles occur worldwide, and the subfamily includes some 4,500 species in about 80 genera. Established as a family, they were reduced in status to a subfamily of Staphylinidae in 2009

Many scydmaenine species have a narrowing between head and thorax and thorax and abdomen, resulting in a passing resemblance to ants that inspires their common name. The largest measure just 3 millimeters long, while some very small species only reach half a millimeter in length. Scydmaenids typically live in leaf litter and rotting logs in forests, preferring moist habitats. A number of types are known to feed on oribatid mites, using "hole scraping" and "cutting" techniques to get through the mite's hard shells.

In addition to the two living subfamilies, the prehistoric subfamily Hapsomelinae, known only from fossils, has been placed here.

Selected genera

*'' Cephennium''
*'' Elacatophora'' Schaufuss, 1884 (including ''Borneosabahia'')
*'' Euconnus'' Thomson, 1859
*'' Eutheia''
*'' Horaeomorphus'' Schaufuss, 1889
*'' Loeblites'' Franz, 1986
*'' Microscydmus'' Saulcy & Croissandeau, 1893
*'' Nevraphes''
*'' Parastenichnaphes'' Franz, 1984
*'' Penicillidmus'' Jałoszyński, 2014
*'' Protoscydmus'' Franz, 1992
*''Scydmaenus''
*'' Siamites'' Franz, 1989
*'' Stenichnus'' Thomson, 1859
*'' Synidcus'' Motschulsky, 1851

Extinct genera

* Clade Cephenniitae Reitter 1882
** Tribe Cephenniini Reitter 1882
*** †'' Praphennium'' Jałoszyński 2018 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
** Tribe Eutheiini Casey 1897
*** †'' Archeutheia'' Jałoszyński and Peris 2016 El Soplao amber (Spanish amber), Spain, Albian
* Clade Mastigitae Fleming 1821
** Tribe Clidicini Casey 1897
*** †'' Palaeoleptochromus'' O'Keefe 1997 Canadian amber, Foremost Formation, Campanian
** Tribe Leptochromini Jałoszyński and Brunke 2018
*** †'' Euroleptochromus'' Jałoszyński 2012 Baltic amber, Eocene
*** †'' Rovnoleptochromus'' Jałoszyński and Perkovsky 2016 Rovno amber, Ukraine, Eocene
* Clade Scydmaenitae Leach 1815
** †'' Kachinus'' Chatzimanolis et al. 2010 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
*** Tribe Scydmaenini Leach 1815
**** †''Kuafu'' Yin et al. 2017 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
*** Tribe Stenichnini Fauvel 1885
**** †'' Cenomaniola'' Jałoszyński and Yamamoto 2017 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**** †'' Glaesoconnus'' Jałoszyński and Perkovsky 2016 Rovno amber, Ukraine, Eocene
**** †'' Hyperstenichnus'' Jałoszyński and Perrichot 2017 Vendée amber, France, Turonian
**** †'' Nuegua'' Yin et al. 2018 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**** †'' Pangusyndicus'' Yin et al. 2018 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**** †'' Scydmobisetia'' Jałoszyński and Yamamoto 2016 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**** †'' Taimyraphes'' Jałoszyński and Perkovsky 2019 Taimyr amber, Russia, Santonian
*†Clade Hapsomelitae Poinar and Brown 2004
**†'' Ektatotricha'' Chatzimanolis et al. 2010 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**†'' Electroatopos'' Chatzimanolis et al. 2010 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
**†'' Hapsomela'' Poinar and Brown 2004 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
* ''Incertae sedis''
** †'' Cryptodiodon'' Schaufuss 1890 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Electroscydmaenus'' Schaufuss 1890 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Hetereuthia'' Schaufuss 1890 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Heuretus'' Schaufuss 1890 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Microlynx'' Kohring and Schlüter 1989 Sicilian amber, Miocene
** †'' Palaeothia'' Schaufuss 1890 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Pinitoides'' Motschulsky 1856 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Scydmaenoides'' Motschulsky 1856 Baltic amber, Eocene
** †'' Semnodioceras'' Schaufuss 1890 Baltic amber, Eocene

References

;Notes

;Sources
*Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, ''American Beetles'' (CRC Press, 2001), vol. 1

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q21299546

Beetle subfamilies