Oxyporinae

Oxyporinae
Oxyporus mexicanus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Staphyliniformia
Superfamily: Staphylinoidea
Family: Staphylinidae
Subfamily: Oxyporinae
Erichson, 1839
Genera and species
  • Oxyporus
    • Oxyporus mexicanus
    • Oxyporus femoralis
    • 4 more unnamed species

The Oxyporinae are a subfamily of the Staphylinidae discovered in 1839 by Erichson.[1] One genus, Oxyporus Fabricius, with six species, is found in North America.

Anatomy

All Oxyporinae have prominent mandibles. Their apical labial palpomeres are very large and strongly securiform. Their tarsi, like most Staphylinidae, are 5-5-5.

Ecology

Most Oxyporinae are fungivores. Their whole lifecycle involves fungi, as females construct egg-laying chambers in fungi and reproduce in them. Thus, most scientists inspect mushrooms and fleshy fungi to find these creatures.

References

  1. ↑ 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.
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