Staphyliniformia
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Most Staphyliniforms are small to average sized beetles. The diverse group has few clear apomorphies. They have primitively 11-segmented antennae, a constricted neck well behind the eyes. The pronotum has a well defined, large lateral edge. Larval legs are 5-segmented, the 10th abdominal segment is often with more-or-less fine or strong spines or hooks. Urogomphi (paired "horns" at posterior tip of abdomen of larvae and pupae) with basal articulation.
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Systematics and evolution
Staphyliniformia belongs to the suborder Polyphaga and is usually given an infraorder or series rank. It contains three superfamilies:
- Histeroidea, including the clown beetles.
- Hydrophiloidea, including the water scavenger beetles
- Staphylinoidea, including antlike stone beetles, carrion beetles, and rove beetles.
Some recent studies also include the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (infraorder Scarabaeiformia), forming together the so-called Hydrophiloid lineage. A sister group relationship of Hydrophiloidea and Histeroidea is strongly supported.
The unambiguous fossil record dates back to Triassic, and an early Mesozoic origin of the group is probable.