Pinophilus cf. latipes

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Family: Staphylinidae

Subfamily: Paederinae

Length: 14-20 mm

 

In their revision of the genus Pinophilus, Abarbanell and Ashe (1989) listed no West Virginia records in this genus, but reported these three species found in nearby states:

• Pinophilus latipes, 14-20 mm
• Pinophilus parcus, 10-14 mm
• Pinophilus opacus, 9-13 mm

The beetle at left came to lights in Upshur County on 29 May 2006.

Though some members of the subfamily Paederinae are flightless, Pinophilus species have fully developed rear wings.

Abarbanell and Ashe note that most specimens in this genus are collected at lights, and thus little is known of the beetles' habitat preferences. They concluded that the best evidence suggests both adults and larvae live in the leaf litter on the forest floor.

Pinophilus latipes is a particularly long member of this genus, measuring 14-20 mm. The pronotum has many tiny pinctures in between larger punctures; there is a central longitudinal line of impunctate surface. The legs are light-colored. The pronotum is shorter and narrower than the elytra.

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Insects of West Virginia