Pselaphinae
Encyclopedia
Pselaphinae is a subfamily of small (usually less than 2.5 mm long) beetle
s. The group was originally regarded as a separate family, named Pselaphidae. Newton and Thayer (1995) placed them in the Omaliine
group of the family Staphylinidae
, based on shared morphological characters.
Pselaphinae consists of seven "Supertribes":
Pselaphines are a very species-rich group (9,000–10,000 species have been described; Newton and Chandler, 1989), and are especially diverse in the tropics
. They are commonly found in decaying leaf litter on forest floors, in grass tussocks, flood refuse, moss, and other highly structured and particulate microhabitats. Little is known about their biology. They are believed to be predatory on small invertebrates, in particular springtail
s (order Collembola) and oribatid mites (family Oribatidae).
Pselaphines have attracted the interest of entomologists
due to their exquisite and massively variable morphology, which is rewarding to observe with a microscope
. In addition, the myrmecophilous ("ant-loving") behaviour of some pselaphine groups (notably certain batrisites, pselaphites and clavigerites) has inspired behavioural studies. Spectacular morphology and myrmecophilia are both taken to extremes by the Clavigeritae. These are obligate inquiline
s which have undergone radical changes in body form, including segmental fusions within the abdomen and antennae
to form strong rigid plate- and club-like structures respectively. Clavigerites also possess trichome
s, which secrete a solution that ant larva
e feed on.
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s. The group was originally regarded as a separate family, named Pselaphidae. Newton and Thayer (1995) placed them in the Omaliine
Omaliinae
Omaliinae are a subfamily of rove beetles.-Characteristics:Typical adults are 1.5 to 6 mm long, somewhat broader in shape than are most Staphylinidae, with somewhat longer elytra , the head with a broad neck, the antennae of 11 articles which are only slightly broader at the apex, and tarsi of...
group of the family Staphylinidae
Rove beetle
The rove beetles are a large family of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra that leave more than half of their abdomens exposed. With over 46,000 species in thousands of genera, the group is the second largest family of beetles after the Curculionidae...
, based on shared morphological characters.
Pselaphinae consists of seven "Supertribes":
- Faronitae,
- Euplectitae
- Goniaceritae
- Pselaphitae
- Clavigeritae
- Bythinoplectitae
- Batrisitae
Pselaphines are a very species-rich group (9,000–10,000 species have been described; Newton and Chandler, 1989), and are especially diverse in the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
. They are commonly found in decaying leaf litter on forest floors, in grass tussocks, flood refuse, moss, and other highly structured and particulate microhabitats. Little is known about their biology. They are believed to be predatory on small invertebrates, in particular springtail
Springtail
Springtails form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects...
s (order Collembola) and oribatid mites (family Oribatidae).
Pselaphines have attracted the interest of entomologists
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
due to their exquisite and massively variable morphology, which is rewarding to observe with a microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
. In addition, the myrmecophilous ("ant-loving") behaviour of some pselaphine groups (notably certain batrisites, pselaphites and clavigerites) has inspired behavioural studies. Spectacular morphology and myrmecophilia are both taken to extremes by the Clavigeritae. These are obligate inquiline
Inquiline
In zoology, an inquiline is an animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of an animal of another species. For example, some organisms such as insects may live in the homes of gophers and feed on debris, fungi, roots, etc...
s which have undergone radical changes in body form, including segmental fusions within the abdomen and antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
to form strong rigid plate- and club-like structures respectively. Clavigerites also possess trichome
Trichome
Trichomes are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants and certain protists. These are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae.- Algal trichomes :...
s, which secrete a solution that ant larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e feed on.