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Subfamily Oxytelinae

Members of this subfamily are distinguished from all other staphylinids by the presence of a complete second sternite so that seven, rather than six, segments can be counted on the under side of the abdomen. The eyes are coarsely faceted. There are seven genera with marine members.

KEY TO GENERA OF MARINE OXYTELINAE

1. Elytra with rounded inner apical angles............................................................................2

Elytra with rectangular inner apical angles. . ......................... ......................... ...............5

2. Tarsus 2-segmented ............................................................. ..........................Thinobius

Tarsus of more than 2 segments......................... ......................... ......................... ........3

3. Tarsus 4-segmented ............................. ........................ ......................... ...........Bledius

Tarsus 5-segmented......................... ......................... ......................... ........................ 4

4. Pronotal lateral bead present......................... ......................... ..............Psamathobledius

Pronotal lateral bead absent. ......................... ......................... ..................Microbledius

5. Tarsus 5-segmented ....................................... .................................................Sartallus

Tarsus 3-segmented ......................... ......................... ......................... ...................... 6

6. Middle coxae contiguous. ......................... ......................... ..........................Carpelimus

Middle coxae separate ..................................... ......................... .....................Oxytelus

Thinobius Kiesenwetter. More than 100 species have been described in this genus. These tiny insects are often taken near water, in decaying organic material and at light. They are dark slender insects, more or less parallel-sided and from under one to about two mm long. They resemble members of the subfamily Aleocharinae but are easily distinguished by their coarsely faceted eyes and the fact that the elytra have the inner apical angles rounded. Two species are recorded from salt marshes in North America, one from each coast, and one species from seaweed from Singapore.

Bledius Leach. More than 350 species are placed in Bledius. They are sub-cylindrical with the anterior tibiae fossorial. The inner apical angles of the elytra are rounded. Members of this genus are usually found in galleries in sand or mud often at the banks of streams or in salt marshes, either inland or marine. Usually larvae and adults are found together. They are often attracted to lights in large numbers. At least 18 species are recorded from the marine habitat, mostly from salt marshes. On the Pacific coast of North America, besides several salt marsh species, one species, B. ornatus LeConte, is found abundantly in sand bars separating a lagoon from the ocean, and two species, B. fenyesi Bernhauer and Schubert and B. monstratus Casey are found in wrack. The ranges of the latter two species do not overlap being separated by Point Conception, California.