Stenus

Ferro, Michael L., Gimmel, Matthew L., Harms, Kyle E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2012, Comparison of the Coleoptera communities in leaf litter and rotten wood in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Insecta Mundi 2012 (259), pp. 1-58 : 24

Comments. Stenus is one of the largest beetle genera with 167 species known from North America and over 1800 species worldwide. No comprehensive key to the species of North America exists. See Newton et al. (2001) and references therein for a list of partial keys to the North American fauna. Range: throughout North America. Habitat: diverse habitats including rocks and plants near streams, on vegetation in general, in forest leaf litter and debris. Collection Method: sifting/Berlese litter and debris. Biology: specialized predators of Collembola and other small arthropods, adults have a unique protrusible labium used in prey capture and some have pygidial glands that allow them to skim across water. Present Study: significantly higher abundance in leaf litter, primary forest, and spring. References: Casey 1884; Blatchley 1910; Sanderson 1946, 1957; Hatch 1957; Puthz 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974a, b, 1975a, b, 1984, 1988, 1994; Newton et al. 2001; Brunke et al. 2011.