Biology of Staphylinidae 
Conclusions 
1. Predatism is the prevailing type of feeding 
behavior in the family. 
2. The reported cases of parasitism within the 
family are typically parasitoid behaviors and sup- 
port the contention that the group is primarily 
predacious. 
3. The feeding behavior of those staphylinids 
found in the nests of social insects clearly point 
to the predacious nature of the family. 
4. Scavengerism is only occasionally practiced. 
The general supposition that the beetles are scay- 
engers is due to confusion of the habitat with the 
actual food of the staphylinids. 
5. Phytophagus behaviors are apparently rare 
among these insects and are so imperfectly known 
that generalizations can not be made. 
6. The length of the pupal period varies in- 
versely with the temperatures. High temperatures 
shorten while low temperatures lengthen the pupal 
period. 
