Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802

Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802: 67 . Type species: Staphylinus curtulus Goeze, 1777 (= Staphylinus fuscipes sensu Gravenhorst, 1802). Note: for a complete discussion of the type species of Aleochara, see Smetana (2004: 30). For a genus group synonymy and species list see Newton (2019). For a phylogenetic study see Maus et al. (2001) and Song & Ahn (2013).

In general, the species of Aleochara have body compact and robust, diverse in shape, small (less 4mm) to large (up to 10mm). Brownish to black, sometimes with elytra and abdominal apex lighter. Head somewhat circular; frons triangularly produced and sharply pointed; antennae 11-segmented, somewhat clavate; and maxillary and labial palpus with apical pseudosegment (respectively 5 and 4-segmented). Pronotum larger than head, transverse, basal width as wide as elytra. Mesocoxal cavities separated, mesoventral process long (almost reaching posterior portion of mesocoxae), longitudinally carinate or not. Tarsal formula 5-5-5 (except subgenus Tinotus 4-5-5). Abdomen gradually narrowed posteriorly; first three visible terga deeply transversely impressed basally (Klimaszewski 1984; Yamamoto & Maruyama 2012, 2016a, b).