COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > STAPHYLINOIDEA > Staphylinidae

A very large family of over 1100 species including over a quarter of all recorded British beetles. Although a few of the more distinctive species are well described, the family as a whole is generally regarded as a very difficult group that many casual observers avoid. The informed and dedicated coleopterists call them 'staphs', but to everyone else they're Rove Beetles.

They are mainly elongate, typically dark, brown or black, but often with some reddish colouration, and characterised by having short elytra that leaves most of the terminal segments exposed. As expected with such a large family there's considerable variation in size, with some species being tiny at just a couple of millimetres whist others, notably Ocypus olens commonly known as the Devil's Coach-horse, can reach 30mm. There's also a great deal of variety in terms of habitat and life style.

Taxonomically the family is separated into 19 subfamilies and various tribes. Some of these subfamilies are small with few species, whilst others, notably Aleocharinae with over 450, are very large with little chance of identification from photos.

My current knowledge is very limited, but by carefully going through the information that's available on the excellent 'UK Beetles' website I can usually establish the subfamily and, with a bit of extra research, may be able to determine the tribe or even the genus, very rarely the species. Fortunately, the non-associated FB Beetles group helps people confirm identity and, certainly in respect of this particular family, I use it a lot to ensure that my personal records are correct.

The following are some brief notes for the species I've photographed and have been able to identify.

Phloeonomus punctipennis | Omaliinae > Omaliini

Tiny, the smallest beetle I've photographed by far, at no more than 2mm long. Rather nondescript, but the small size together with the shape of the pronotum help to distinguish the genus of which there are two similar species. They are difficult to separate unless you're inspecting them very closely, but Phloeonomous punctipennis has slightly more defined and longer pronotal depressions that extend further forward than those in Phloeonomous pusillus.

Tachyporus hypnorum | Tachyporinae > Tachyporini

Small, barely 4mm, but distinctive due to their body shape and dark colouration; very common and widespread.

Drusilla canaliculata | Aleocharinae > Lomechusini

Adults are typically 4-5mm long and can be identified by their distinctive shiny dark-red colouration and the deep indentation in the pronotum.              

Habrocerus capillaricornis  | Habrocerinae

Sole representative of the subfamily. Very small, around 3mm, shiny brownish-black with paler appendages. Antennae inserted laterally in front of the eyes, eleven-segmented, each with a distinctive ring of several long erect setae.

Paederus littoralis | Paederinae > Paderini

Wetland species, 8-9mm, elongate, broad-bodied, black with orange-red pronotum and abdominal segments 3-6. Distinguished from other Paederus by near quadrate pronotum and elytra, and black mandibles.

Paederus riparius | Paederinae > Paderini        

Very similar to Paederus littoralis, but with narrower head and pronotum, more elongate elytra and yellow mandibles.

Atrecus affinis | Staphylininae > Othiini

The only member of the genus to occur in Britain. Perhaps not that clear in this particular photo, but the relatively large mandibles that when held at rest form a triangle in front of the head, are charcateristic of the species. Common under loose coniferous bark.

Othius cf.subuliformis | Staphylininae >  Othiini

Initially identified as Othius sp. Further research suggested Othius subuliformis based on small size and general colouration but, with five similar species in the genus, identity is best left as 'likely'.

Ontholestes murinus | Staphylininae > Staphylinini

Distinctive due to the brown and silvery pubescence, coupled with sharp anterior pronotal angles and black legs, which distinguishes the species from Ontholestes tessellatus.

Philonthus cognatus | Staphylininae > Staphylinini

A difficult genus with 46 species, distinguished from Quedius by the row of punctures on the pronotum that extend on to the back half whereas in Quedius they're confined to the front. A combination of features, including the size, around 10mm, shiny black head and pronotum, pronotal punctures and, importantly, bicoloured (underside pale) first antennal segment confirms the species.

Philonthus splendens | Staphylininae > Staphylinini

Active in dung, on average the largest Philonthus species at 10-16mm.

Quedius levicollis | Staphylininae > Staphylinini

Competing with Philonthus for the greatest number of species, Quedius has 45 within five subgenus groups. I wasn't able to get very far with this one, but fortunately it was identified from a series of photos showing both the "punctate scutellum and infraorbital punctures" (between the eyes).

Quedius cf.mesomelinus | Staphylininae > Staphylinini

Subgenus Microsaurus, scutellum lacking punctures. Quedius mesomelinus is the most common of the species with dark elytra, also one of the largest at 7-11mm, described as completely black or very dark reddish-brown with slightly paler legs and antennae.

Xantholinus cf.longiventris | Staphylininae > Xantholinini

Confirmed as Xantholinus sp., and subsequently upgraded to the most likely species by an expert on the FB Beetles group from looking at a series of photos where "the reflection on the pronotum looks slightly diffuse as though it was microsculptured".

Stenus cf.ossium | Steninae

Confirmed as Stenus sp., but subsequently looked at by a well-known coleopterist who thought that it was very likely Stenus ossium. But, with 75 species in the genus, confirmed id can only be achieved from close examination.

Scaphidium quadrimaculatum | Scaphidiinae > Scaphidiini

Unmistakable, 5-6mm, broad rounded body with four red marks, very different to other rove beetles. One of five species in the subfamily, all associated with decaying wood and fungus.