Empelinae

Empelinae is a subfamily of rove beetle. Its biology is virtually unknown. Its anatomy and ecology resembles many rove beetles.

Ecology and Anatomy

Empelinae are small beetles that are under two millimeters long. They have 11 antennae with a loose 3-segmented club. Their elytra nearly covers the whole of their abdomen. The tarsi, according to scientists, is 5-5-5. Some scientists theorize that this is a result of their secluded habitats - forest leaf litter, fungi and moss at a stream's edge. This makes collecting the subfamily's species hard. Due to the seclusion of Empelinae, like many rove beetles, (see Aleocharinae), the subfamily's biology is nearly unknown.

Systematics

The subfamily is small, with its type genus being monotypic; the only species is Empelus brunipennis, discovered Mannerheim in 1852. One species in the subfamily is restricted to North America. However, it has been very successful there, ranging from southern Alaska to California.

References

• Herman, L.H. 2001: Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Insecta, Coleoptera): 1758 to the end of the second millennium. I. Introduction, history, biographical sketches, and omaliine group. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, (265): 1–650.

• Newton, A. F., Jr., and M. K. Thayer. 1992. Current classification and family-group names in Staphyliniformia (Coleoptera). Fieldiana 67: 1–92.

• Newton, A. F., Jr., M. K. Thayer, J. S. Ashe, and D. S. Chandler. 2001. 22. Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802. p. 272–418. In: R. H. Arnett, Jr., and M. C. Thomas (eds.). American beetles, Volume 1. CRC Press; Boca Raton, FL. ix + 443 p.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Empelinae

• Empelinae at Bugguide.net. Not yet available.