Stenus

Last updated

Stenus
Stenus biguttatus.jpg
Stenus biguttatus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Staphylinidae
Subfamily: Steninae
Genus: Stenus
Latreille, 1796

Stenus is a genus of semiaquatic rove beetles in the subfamily Steninae, and one of the largest genera in the kingdom Animalia, with some 3100 known species worldwide (only the beetle genus Agrilus is comparable in size). [1] [2] They are predators of Collembola and other small arthropods. Adults have a protrusible labium with a sticky tip used in prey capture. To overcome the rapid escape of Collembola, the labium is protruded at high speed (1-3 ms in Stenus comma) by hemolymph pressure, and immediately withdrawn (withdrawn in 30-40 ms in Stenus comma), pulling the prey within the range of the mandibles. However, the labium tip does not easily stick to prey covered in scales or setae or that have a large body size. Stenus comma is more likely to catch such prey by lunging forward and grabbing them directly with its mandibles rather than using its labium. [3] Stenus species are also known for "skimming" on the water surface using their pygidial gland secretions that act as a surfactant and rapidly propel the beetle fast forward, a phenomenon known as the Marangoni effect. Stenus comma has been seen to achieve a velocity of 0.75 m/s, and to cover a distance of up to 15 m if the secretion is continuous. [4] [5]

Selected species

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleocharinae</span> Subfamily of beetles

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.

Stenus palposus is a species of beetle of the subfamily Steninae in the family Staphylinidae. As a predatory insect, it feeds on other smaller arthropods such as springtails.

<i>Acrotona</i> Genus of beetles

Acrotona is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 30 described species in Acrotona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athetini</span> Tribe of beetles

Athetini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 50 genera and 430 described species in Athetini.

<i>Mycetoporus</i> Genus of beetles

Mycetoporus is a genus of crab-like rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 70 described species in Mycetoporus.

<i>Omalium</i> Genus of beetles

Omalium is a genus of ocellate rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are at least 70 described species in Omalium.

<i>Oxytelus</i> Genus of beetles

Oxytelus is a genus of spiny-legged rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 50 described species in Oxytelus.

<i>Anotylus</i> Genus of beetles

Anotylus is a genus of spiny-legged rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 90 described species in Anotylus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxypodini</span> Tribe of beetles

Oxypodini is a tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 50 genera and 580 described species in Oxypodini.

<i>Myllaena</i> Genus of beetles

Myllaena is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 60 described species in Myllaena.

<i>Biocrypta</i> Genus of beetles

Biocrypta is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae. There are more than 20 described species in Biocrypta, found in North, Central, and South America.

References

  1. "Stenus canaliculatus Gyllenhal, 1827". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  2. Bellamy, C. L. (2010). "Genus Agrilus". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 10 Jun 2011.
  3. Bauer, Thaumas; Pfeiffer, Martin (1991). "'Shooting' springtails with a sticky rod: the flexible hunting behaviour of Stenus comma (Coleoptera; Staphylinidae) and the counter-strategies of its prey". Animal Behaviour. 41 (5): 819–828. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80349-5.
  4. Carolin, Lang; Seifert, Karlheinz; Dettner, Konrad (2012). "Skimming behaviour and spreading potential of Stenus species and Dianous coerulescens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)". Naturwissenschaften. 99 (11): 937–47. doi:10.1007/s00114-012-0975-4.
  5. Bush, J. W. M.; David L. Hu (2006). "Walking on Water: Biolocomotion at the Interface" (PDF). Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. 38 (1): 339–369. doi:10.1146/annurev.fluid.38.050304.092157. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2007.
  6. 1 2 Tang; Li (2013). "Discovery of Steninae from Ningxia, Northwest China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)". ZooKeys (272): 1–20. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.272.4389 . PMC   3677394 . PMID   23794800.