Paederinae

The Paederinae are a subfamily of the Staphylinidae, rove beetles.[1][2] The Paederinae include two tribes, Paederini and Pinophilini.[3] This insect is commonly known as Tomcat.

Paederinae
Paederus littoralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Staphyliniformia
Superfamily:	Staphylinoidea
Family:	Staphylinidae Lameere, 1900
Subfamily:	Paederinae Fleming, 1821

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.[4] This irritant, pederin, is highly toxic, more potent than cobra venom.[5] 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.

• 
  Astenus cinctus
• 
  Deroderus sp.
• 
  Lathroium sp.
• 
  Myrmecosaurus ferrugineus
• 
  Palaminus sp.
• 
  Sunius rufipes

References

1. 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.
2. Anlaş, Sinan; I. Ethem Çevik** (2008). "Faunistic studies on Paederinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Manisa province, Turkey". Munis Entomology & Zoology. 3 (2): 665–674. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
3. "Paederinae". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
4. Capineira, John L; J. Howard Frank (2008). "Dermatitis linearis". Encyclopedia of entomology. Springer. pp. 1179–. ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1. 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
5. "Ectoparasites". Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-06-04.

External links

• Paederinae at Bugguide.net.