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Psamathobledius Herman. This genus and Microbledius were
recently (Herman, 1972) separated from Bledius for several very small
species whose tarsi are 5-segmented, those of Bledius being
4-segmented. Herman listed 3 species. They are apparently all salt marsh
inhabitants. This genus is distinguished from Microbledius by the
presence of a lateral carina separating the pronotal disc from the hypomera. Microbledius
Herman. The genus was created recently for a group of small species formerly
placed in Bledius. Herman (1972) placed 10 new world species in the genus. At
least M. actitus Herman is found on a marine salt marsh. Sartallus
Sharp. The single species, S. signalis Sharp, is a pale insect about 5-6.5 mm in length. The tarsi are
5-segmented and the tibiae spinose. It is found in Australia where it is associated
with sandy, coastal regions. It hides under seaweed and feeds chiefly on dead
barnacles. Carpelimus
Leach. More than 300 species are known in this genus. They are small, somber
colored insects of rather uniform appearance and consequently are difficult
to study. They are found mostly at the margins of ponds and streams or
associated with decaying organic materials and are often attracted to
lights. The tibiae are without
spines. The inner apical angles of the elytra are rectangular and the middle
coxae contiguous. The eyes are coarsely faceted. Ten species have been
reported from salt marshes in various parts of the world and one
species, C. lucidus Cameron,
from seaweed at Zanzibar. Oxytelus Gravenhorst.
More than 100 species have been placed in this genus. The pronotum is
carinate and often shining and the middle coxae are widely separated. The
anterior tibiae are spinose. These insects are often found in decaying
organic material so it is not surprising that four species have been reported
from Great Britain from seaweed. Subfamily Proteininae
Members of this small subfamily are similar to members of
the Omaliinae but lack the ocelli so characteristic of the latter. Proteinus
Latreille. Twenty three species, almost all from the North Temperate Zone,
are included in this genus. The species are often found in decaying vegetable
matter so it is not unusual that Fowler (1888) reported two species also from
decaying seaweed from the British Islands. These are small oval insects with
long elytra. Subfamily Xantholininae
Members of this subfamily differ from all other
staphylinids in the presence of a small sclerite called the neck plate which
is adjacent to the anterior margin of the prosternum. They are linear, highly
flexible insects. |