40 BULLETIN 18 2, UNITED STATES NIATIONAL MUSEUM 



ARRANGEMENT OF SUBFAMILIES AND GENERA 



The arrangement of subfamilies used here is partly the result of 

 studies carried out on the genera included herein and differs from 

 that used in the Junk Catalog and other recent works in the follow- 

 ing points: (1) The subfamily Oxytelinae is restricted to what is 

 called the tribe Oxytelini in the Junk Catalog, and the Piestini, Oma- 

 liini, and Osoriini are elevated to the rank of subfamilies; (2) the 

 Staphylininae and Xantholininae are retained as tribes, but the 

 Xanthopygini and Quediini are considered to be subordinate to the 

 former; (3) the Cephaloplectinae are omitted as not belonging to 

 the Staphylinidae ; and (4) the Hypocyphtini are elevated to the rank 

 of subfamily. 



In certain groups the arrangement of genera is based upon studies 

 of the genotypes and represents new conclusions as to the relation- 

 ships. For example, the subfamily Piestinae is restricted to the sub- 

 tribes Piesti and Trigonuri through the removal of all the other 

 subtribes to the new subfamily Osoriinae. The latter is rearranged 

 into three tribes and seven subtribes, all of which occur in the West 

 Indies. The subfamily Paederinae has been completely rearranged 

 into a system based on the relative specialization of its members, but 

 no attempt has been made to arrange categories between the sub- 

 family and the genus, although such groups do certainlj'- exist. The 

 position of the tribes Xantholinini and Staphylinini have been re- 

 versed because of the obviously greater specialization of the former, 

 but no comprehensive study of the groups has yet been made. Some 

 rearrangement of genera in the subfamily is proposed. 



KEY TO SUBFAMILIES OF WEST INDIAN STAPHYLINIDAE 



1. Antennae inserted into vertex between eyes 2 



Antenna inserted at front or side margin of head 3 



2. Posterior coxae conical, not expanded Steninae 



Posterior coxae expanded laterally under the femora Ai.eocharinae 



3. Abdomen not margined above at sides, and fourth segment of maxillary 



palpus not enlarged or securiform Osoriinae 



Abdomen margined at sides above, or fourth segment of maxillary palpus 

 enlarged and more or less securiform 4 



4. With two ocelli Omaliinae 



Without paired ocelli 5 



5. Antennae 10-segmentod Hyfocyphtinae 



Antenna 11-segmented 6 



6. Anterior coxae small, globose Piestinae 



Anterior coxae conical, exserted 7 



7. With elongate labral processes Stylopodinae 



Without elongate labral processes 8 



8. Antennae distinctly clubbed Etjaesthetinae 



Antennae not distinctly clubbed 9 



