Biology of Staphylinidae 235 
Behaviors Studies 
Feeding Behaviors 
Staphylinid feeding behaviors have never been clearly defined. 
Such epitaphs as short-winged scavengers, and their presence in 
and about putrid and decayi ing organic matter has lead many 
to believe that they were carrion feeders. There are a large 
number of isolated observations of predatism in both the larval 
and adult stages but these observations have been considered 
as exceptions and not as the general feeding behavior, The 
economic entomologists have reared a few species from the 
puparia of root maggots and these sheeeeatsons have given rise 
to the feeling that some of the family are parasitic. The be- 
havior of the myrmecophilous and termitophilous staphylinids 
show the predacious behavior of the group, but predatism has 
never been considered as common as my experiments show it 
to be. 
S SCAVENGERS. Feeding on dead material does not con- 
itis scavengerism, for dead plant and animal food materials, 
free from decay, are not radically different in food value from 
those same materials in the living organism. To be a scavenger 
an animal must feed on the more simple organic compounds 
produced by the organisms of decay. This is not a simple feed- 
ing behavior but a derived form of feeding, for a scavenger must 
be able to feed on many compounds. which are poisonous to most 
organisms. This tolerance to poisons is a specialized behavior 
and the organism with such behavior should not be considered 
primitive. 
here are very few observations which support the common 
idea that the Staphylinidae are scavengers. In most cases the 
food of the staphylinids has undoubtedly been confused with 
is habitat in which they are found. This conception is clearly 
shown by references from the more general entomological texts. 
Kellog (14:260) sums up this feeling by saying, “They are 
mostly carrion feeders and with the Silphidae are almost sure 
F : 
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smaller staphylinids are numerous predaceous species.” The 
opinion of other authors can be best shown by quotations. 
Folsom (22:236): “Staphylinidae are carrion beetles.” Comstock 
(24:489): “As these insects feed upon decayi ns sea and vegetable 
matter, they should be classed as beneficial.” & (24 480) : “Mem- 
bers of the family abound where there is ead. ng organic matter, 
including dung and dead animals, while many are predaceous. More 
