top of page

Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Lathrobiini Rove Beetles
Lathrobiini (Tribe)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-Staphyliniform Beetles (Infraorder Staphyliniformia)

-Rove, Ant-like Stone, and Carrion Beetles (Superfamily Staphylinoidea)

-Rove Beetles (Family Staphylinidae)

-Subfamily Osoriinae

-Tribe Lathrobiini


The Lathrobiini are a tribe of beetles in the family Staphylinidae, the rove beetles. These beetles are typically small to medium-sized and are often found in decaying organic matter, under bark, or within leaf litter, where they play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Unlike many other rove beetles, Osoriinae are less predatory and more frequently associated with fungal material, detritus, or symbiotic relationships with social insects like ants and termites.

Diet

  • Adults: Primarily predatory, feeding on small insects, insect eggs, mites, springtails and other tiny invertebrates. Some species also consume decaying organic material.

  • Larvae: Predatory, hunting small invertebrates in soil, leaf litter, decaying vegetation and other moist habitats.

  • Their slender bodies allow them to move through narrow spaces in leaf litter and beneath bark while searching for prey.

Range

  • Lathrobiini is a widespread tribe of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, occurring throughout much of the world.

  • Numerous species occur in Mexico, including tropical and subtropical regions.

  • Lathrobiini can be encountered around Zihuatanejo, particularly in moist leaf litter, shaded woodland and areas with abundant decomposing vegetation.

Habitat

  • Found in leaf litter, soil, rotting vegetation, beneath bark, decaying logs, stream margins and moist areas of forest.

  • Around Zihuatanejo, the best places to look are shaded forest floor, areas beneath fallen logs and accumulations of leaf litter, particularly during and after the rainy season.

  • Some species tolerate disturbed habitats and may occur in gardens, agricultural areas and urban green spaces.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 4–15 mm (0.16–0.6 in), depending on species.

  • Body elongated and narrow, with a large exposed abdomen extending beyond the shortened elytra.

  • Usually black, brown or reddish-brown, sometimes with contrasting abdominal markings.


bottom of page