| Aleocharine Rove Beetles (Aleocharinae (Fleming, 1821)) |
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Scientific name: Aleocharinae (Fleming, 1821) Common name: Aleocharine Rove Beetles French name: Staphylins de la sous-famille des Aleocharinae Order: Coleoptera Family: Staphylinidae Wingspan : Generally 3 to 5 mm but some species can reach 10 mm. Biotope: Usually on the soil among the litter. Geographic area: Aleocharine Rove Beetles are found worldwide. Observation period : |
Beetles of the Staphylinidae family show very short elytra which do not cover a large part of the abdomen. However these elytra hide well developed membranous wings so that these insects are able to flight very well. There are numerous species which are very difficult to identify. You can find keys to tell subfamilies apart. The Aleocharinae subfamily is characterized by the following criteria: - the antennae are thread-like (no club at the tip) and are made of 10 or 11 articles. - they are inserted on the upper side of the head, about at the eye's fore edge. - the eyes are medium in size and do not cover the whole lateral side of the head, leaving a clearly visible space before the pronotum. - there is no ridge on the pronotum nor the elytra. More than 12000 species are listed in this subfamily worldwide. |
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I photographed this Rove Beetle in my compost tank. The antennae are inserted on the upper side, between the eyes about on the eyes' fore edge. All the other criteria to point to the Aleocharinae subfamily are clearly visible on this picture. |
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I think that this one is also an Aleocharine Rove Beetle. |
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I observed this Rove Beetle larva in my compost bin. The family was confirmed to me by Alain Ramel. Staphylinidae larvae resemble Carabidae larvae with two cerci at the tip of the abdomen. However, the 5-segmented legs end in a single claw. Carabidae larvae have six-segmented legs that end in two claws. I don't know if one can easily identify the subfamily for a larva. |
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Close-up of the head. |
André Bon January 2025