PEET - Austral Staphylinidae

Most rove beetles are predatory in their feeding habits, but some of them are mycophagous, saprophagous, and, as very rare exceptions, phytophagous. Staphylinids occur in virtually all terrestrial habitats, and in many ecosystems are a major component of the litter/humus macrofauna. They are especially diverse and numerous in moist habitats, edges of various water bodies (including cold or saline ones) being rich for these beetles too. However, unlike some other beetles, staphylinids are a strictly terrestrial group, having no truly aquatic species. As far as known, immature stages of staphylinids usually occur in the same habitats with adults, and the feeding habits of the larvae are generally the same as those of the adults. Staphylinidae has a worldwide distribution. Although the peaks of diversity of this family are confined to the tropical or temperate humid areas of all continents, rove beetles are rather common in less favorable areas. Finally, they are among the few invertebrate groups able to inhabit extreme habitats like deserts, high altitudes in the mountains, or high latitudes of the globe.

Unlike many other beetles (beautiful insects and popular objects for taxonomic studies), “obscure” Staphylinidae is a greatly under-explored and difficult-to-identify group. Taxonomic expertise in the family is a real challenge. However, in recent decades the interest in this family among entomologists and biologists is growing. This seems to be partly an appreciation of the great potential of Staphylinidae for a variety of taxonomical, ecological, biogeographical and other large-scaled research projects. The importance of staphylinids in terrestrial ecosystems (including endangered ones!) greatly encourages the study of these insects as well.

Links:
Beetles of Dunedin (New Zealand)

Evolution and Diversity of Myrmecophilous Insects

Checklists and other information on Australian Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae; Ptiliidae; Silphidae; Hydrophiloidea (part of Australian Faunal Directory of ABRS)

Beetles of the New Zealand subantarctic islands

Tree of Life web project – Staphylinidae

Aleocharinae PEET grant (University of Kansas)

Staphyliniformia: data and links on specialists worldwide working on Staphylinidae

Staphylinidae of Central Europe: various resources on Staphylinidae, staphylinidologists (and their annual meetings), mostly for Central Europe

Atlas of European Staphylinidae

Gusarov Staphylinidae resources

Technical Support
webmaster@fieldmuseum.org