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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Staphyliniformia » Staphylinoidea » Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae) » Ant-loving Beetles (Pselaphinae)

Subfamily Pselaphinae - Ant-loving Beetles

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Subfamily Pselaphinae - Rybaxis clavata Pselaphinae - Ant-loving Beetle - Decarthron - male Staphylinid - Decarthron stigmosum Pselaphin - Reichenbachia facilis Pselaphinae - Cedius Family Staphylinidae - Dalmosanus steevesi Decarthron - Decarthron velutinum Arthmius - Arthmius bulbifer
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Staphyliniformia)
Superfamily Staphylinoidea
Family Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
Subfamily Pselaphinae (Ant-loving Beetles)
Other Common Names
Short-winged Mold Beetles
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly considered a separate family, Pselaphidae; Clavigerinae is now treated as a subfamily
Numbers
710 spp. in >100 genera in our area(1)(2), >8,000 spp. worldwide
Size
0.5-5.5 mm (average 1.5 mm)(1)
Identification
abdomen broader than head and usually not flexible; elytra short, exposing much of the upper surface of the abdomen; antennae clubbed
Range
worldwide
Habitat
under stones, loose bark, moss, forest litter, and in ant nests
Food
Pselaphines are predators. (they do not feed on mold, even though it was implied by their older common name, "ant-like mold beetles"(1))
Remarks
Three obligate troglobiotic spp. from central TX are federally listed as endangered: Batrisodes texanus, B. venyivi, and Texamaurops reddelli
Print References
Brendel, E.C. monograph (1890)(3)
Chandler, D.S. 1992. The Pselaphidae (Coleoptera) of Texas caves. Pp. 241-253 In: J.R. Reddell, (editor). Studies on the cave and endogean fauna of North America II. Speleological Monographs, v. 3, Texas Memorial Museum, Austin.
Chandler, D.S. 2013. Further notes on the New World Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) described by Victor Motschulsky. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 67(3): 321-327. (4)
Internet References
biology and other info - G.R. Burgess
classification - Tree of Life
Works Cited
1.American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia
Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.). 2000. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.
2.A catalog of Coleoptera of America north of Mexico. Family: Pselaphidae
Chandler D.S. 1997. USDA Agriculture handbook no. 529-31. x + 118 pp.
3.The Pselaphidae of North America. A Monograph.
Brendel, E. C. 1890. Bulletin Lab. Nat. Hist. State University of Iowa 1: 216 - 304; appendix 1 - 113.
4.Further notes on the New World Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) described by Victor Motschulsky.
Chandler, D.S. 2013. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 67(3): 321-327.
Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 10 May, 2005 - 7:11am
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Mike Quinn, Boris Bueche, v belov
Last updated 5 November, 2022 - 12:30pm

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