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Synopsis of subfamilies with keys to genera

 

Subfamily Aleocharinae

 

          Members of the Aleocharinae, the largest and most difficult subfamily, are usually quite small and often quite similar in appearance. All the species of staphylinids which can endure submergence in seawater, those of the rocky shores and coral reefs belong to this subfamily. Other species of this subfamily are found on the sandy beaches associated with wrack and a few are found on mud flats. This subfamily has been divided into tribes on the basis of mouthpart structure and tarsal segmentation. The latter is often difficult to see and not always reliable even within specific limits but no better system has been proposed.

 

KEY TO TRIBES OF ALEOCHARINAE

 

I.  Antenna 10-segmented ......................................................................................Oligotini

 

    Antennal 11-segmented .................................................................................................2

 

2.  Outer lobe of maxilla entirely corneous, without pubescence on inner side...........Myllaenini

 

     Outer lobe of maxilla partly membranous, with long pubescence on inner side................... 3

 

3.  Posterior tarsus 4-segmented ...........................................................................Diglottini

 

     Posteriortarsus5-segmented................................................. ........................................ 4

 

4.  Middle tarsus 4-segmented ............................................... .........................Bolitocharini

 

     Middletarsus5-segmented................................................. ........................................... 5

 

5.  Anterior tarsus 4-segmented ............................................... ......................Myrmedoniini

 

     Anteriortarsus5-segmented ................................................. .........................................6

 

6.  Maxillary palpus 4-segmented. ............................................... .......................Oxypodini

 

    Maxillary palpus 5-segmented. ............................................... .......................Aleocharini