Paederinae

{{short description|Subfamily of beetles}}

{{Automatic Taxobox

| image = Paederus littoralis01.jpg

| image_caption = Paederus littoralis

| parent_authority = Lameere, 1900

| taxon = Paederinae

| authority = Fleming, 1821

}}

The Paederinae are a subfamily of the Staphylinidae, rove beetles.Newton, A. F., Jr., M. K. Thayer, J. S. Ashe, and D. S. Chandler. 2001. 22. Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802. pp. 272–418. In: R. H. Arnett, Jr., and M. C. Thomas (eds.). American beetles, Volume 1. CRC Press; Boca Raton, FL. ix + 443 p.{{cite journal |last1=Anlaş |first1=Sinan |author2=I. Ethem Çevik**|title=Faunistic studies on Paederinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Manisa province, Turkey|journal=Munis Entomology & Zoology|year=2008|volume=3|issue=2|pages=665–674|url=http://www.munisentzool.org/?blogs=download&id=183|accessdate=27 July 2011}} {{As of|2024}}, three tribes are accepted within this subfamily: Lathrobiini, Paederini, and Pinophilini.{{Cite CoL|title=Paederinae|id=9J9JV}} This insect is commonly known as Tomcat.{{Cn|date=April 2024}}

Three of the genera of a subtribe of the Paederini are associated with a skin irritation called Paederus dermatitis, due to a potent vesicant in their haemolymph.{{cite book |last1=Capineira|first1=John L |title=Encyclopedia of entomology|year=2008|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-6242-1|pages=1179– |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9ITMiiohVQC |author2=J. Howard Frank|chapter=Dermatitis linearis|quote=The 28 species thus far shown to produce such a toxin belong to three of the 14 genera of Paederina, namely Paederus, Paederidus, and Megalopaederus}} This irritant, pederin, is highly toxic, more potent than cobra venom.{{cite web |url=http://www.itg.be/itg/DistanceLearning/LectureNotesVandenEndenE/Teksten/sylabus/52_Ectoparasites.doc |title=Ectoparasites |publisher=Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp |accessdate=2007-06-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305234757/http://www.itg.be/itg/DistanceLearning/LectureNotesVandenEndenE/Teksten/sylabus/52_Ectoparasites.doc |archivedate=2007-03-05 }} Thirty-six genera and 436 species are found in North America, generally in damp places, under logs, in caves and ant nests, in litter, or on foliage. Genera include Rugilus and Trisunius.

Image: Astenus cinctus 0171943 dorsal.tif|Astenus cinctus

Image: Deroderus sp 0152838 dorsal.tif|Deroderus sp.

Image: Lathroium sp 152073 dorsal.tif|Lathroium sp.

Image: Myrmecosaurus ferrugineus 0157231 dorsal.tif|Myrmecosaurus ferrugineus

Image: Palaminus sp 149592 dorsal.tif|Palaminus sp.

Image: Sunius rufipes dorsal.jpg|Sunius rufipes