Proteininae

{{Short description|Subfamily of beetles}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Megarthrus americanus 0172534 dorsal.tif

| image_caption = Megarthrus americanus

| taxon = Proteininae

| authority = Erichson, 1839

}}

Proteininae is a subfamily of Staphylinidae.Newton, A. F., Jr., M. K. Thayer, J. S. Ashe, and D. S. Chandler. 2001. 22. Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802. p. 272–418. In: R. H. Arnett, Jr., and M. C. Thomas (eds.). American beetles, Volume 1. CRC Press; Boca Raton, FL. ix + 443 p.

Anatomy

  • Broad bodied.
  • Small, under 3 mm.
  • Elytra long, covering first visible abdominal tergite.
  • Tarsi 5-5-5 in NA, 4-4-4 in some southern hemisphere taxa.

Image: Megarthrus americanus 0172534 dorsal.tif|Megarthrus americanus

Image: Proteinus sp 0157243 dorsal.tif|Proteinus sp.

Ecology

  • Habitat: found in fungi, under bark, in decaying vegetation, forest leaf litter.
  • Collection method: sift/Berlese leaf litter.
  • Biology: saprophages or mycophages.

Systematics

Two genera and 22 species in North America.

References

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