Rove beetles

Code QC180000

Most staphylinids are terrestrial, however representatives of two subfamilies, Oxytelinae and Steninae ( Stenus ) occur commonly in typical semi-aquatic habitats.

Body form elongate and parallel sided to subovate; size range 1- >20 mm when mature. Antennae three (Oxytelinae) or four (Steninae) segmented. Eyes of Oxytelinae absent or with one or three stemmata, eyes of Steninae with 6 stemmata. Urogomphi long and slender to short and stubby. Legs five segmented with a single tarsungulus. Terminal abdominal segment modified into a conical to tubular pygopod. Abdomen otherwise lacking processes, hooks or gills.

Of the semi-aquatic staphylinids (Polyphaga: Staphylinoidea), Stenus (Steninae) lives in marshes and at the edges of streams and ponds, and is predatory; whilst Bledius (Oxytelinae) burrows in moist sand adjacent to rivers and lakes and feed on algae and diatoms. Other staphylinids may also be collected adjacent to water courses, notably Paederus (Paederinae). Staphylinids occur in all Australian states, with around 1600 species recognised.

References:

Frank, J.H. (1991) Staphylinidae (Staphylinoidea) pp. 341-352. In: Stehr, F.W. (ed.) Immature Insects. Volume 2. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa.

Lawrence, J.F. and Britton, E.B. (1991) Coleoptera. pp. 543-683. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia. Volume 2. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.

Williams, W.D. (1980) Australian Freshwater Life: The Invertebrates of Australian Inland Waters. The Macmillan Company of Australia, Melbourne.