The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra that typically leave more than half of their abdominal segments exposed. With over 66,000 species in thousands of genera, the group is the largest family in the beetle order, and one of the largest families of organisms. It is an ancient group, with fossilized rove beetles known from the Triassic, 200 million years ago, and possibly even earlier if the genus Leehermania proves to be a member of this family. They are an ecologically and morphologically diverse group of beetles, and commonly encountered in terrestrial ecosystems.
Staphylinoidea is a superfamily of beetles. It is a very large and diverse group with worldwide distribution.
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.
Dalotia coriaria, the greenhouse rove beetle, is a species of staphylinid rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It is used as a predatory biological control agent for the management of pest insects.
Termitopaediini is a tribe in the rove beetle subfamily Aleocharinae. Much of it was classified and documented by Kistner in 1977.
Termitolinus is a genus of Aleocharinae, a subfamily of rove beetle, in the tribe Termitopaediini.
Gymnusa is a genus of rove beetles in the subfamily Aleocharinae and tribe Gymnusini. The coloration of this genus is highly coherent, with most species black and a few dark, dark brown. They range in length from 4.2 millimeters to 6.5 millimeters.
Many species of Staphylinidae have developed complex interspecies relationships with ants, known as myrmecophily. Rove beetles are among the most rich and diverse families of myrmecophilous beetles, with a wide variety of relationships with ants. Ant associations range from near free-living species which prey only on ants, to obligate inquilines of ants, which exhibit extreme morphological and chemical adaptations to the harsh environments of ant nests. Some species are fully integrated into the host colony, and are cleaned and fed by ants. Many of these, including species in tribe Clavigerini, are myrmecophagous, placating their hosts with glandular secretions while eating the brood.
Symphiles are insects or other organisms which live as welcome guests in the nest of a social insect by which they are fed and guarded. The relationship between the symphile and host may be symbiotic, inquiline or parasitic.
Catalina elegans is a species of rove beetles in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It has an Afrotropical distribution.
Termitonannini is a tribe of rove beetles in the subfamily Aleocharinae.
Homalotini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 30 genera and 200 described species in Homalotini.
Athetini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 50 genera and 430 described species in Athetini.
Platyusa is a monotypic genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There is one described species in Platyusa, P. sonomae, found in the western United States.
Falagriini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are about 11 genera and at least 20 described species in Falagriini.
Hoplandriini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 5 genera and 21 described species in Hoplandriini.
Sceptobius is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least three described species in Sceptobius.
Sceptobiini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least two genera and about five described species in Sceptobiini.
Microdonia is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least four described species in Microdonia.
Aenictoteratini is a myrmecophilous tribe of rove beetles in the subfamily Aleocharinae which contains 10 genera, 7 of which are monotypic. In total, there are 17 species currently listed as Aenictoteratini.
