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 beetles.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.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.Family-group Names in Coleoptera (Insecta), p. 18
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 Cryptonotopsisini 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 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 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 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
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.