Aleochara

Aleochara
Aleochara kenyasinuosa
This is a map of the distribution of Aleochara in Europe.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Staphylinidae
Genus: Aleochara
Gravenhorst, 1802
Wikispecies has information related to: Aleochara

Aleochara is an unusual genus in the beetle family Staphylinidae, the Rove beetles; larvae of Staphylinidae occur in many assorted ecological roles, most being scavengers, predators or carrion feeders, but the larvae of at least those species of Aleochara whose life histories are known, are parasitoids; they feed in the puparia of suitable species of flies, killing the host in the process. Adult Aleochara are predators.

Aleochara are found worldwide except in Antarctica. There are more than 400 species in 16 subgenera. The adults of many species can be found near dung or carrion, commonly feeding on the eggs, larvae, and puparia of various scatophagous and necrophagous Diptera.

The most extensively studied aleocharine rove beetle is Aleochara bilineata Gyllenhal, which is a significant biological control agent against some fly pests (notably Delia spp. in the family Anthomyiidae) of agricultural crops in the mustard and cabbage family Brassicaceae, such as cabbage, rutabaga, canola, and many others.

Species include: [1]

Subgenera

The genus Aleochara contains 400 species distributed into 16 subgenera. Below is a list of subgenera: [3]

References

  1. A. G. Duff (2008). "Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles" (PDF). The Coleopterist. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  2. Haritos, Victoria (2000). "Dr Jane Wright, Entomologist". Australian Academy of Science. Retrieved 9 October 2011.

Other sources

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