THE LARVA OF ROTHIUM SONORENSIS MOORE & LEGNER 
WITH A KEY TO THE KNOWN LARVAE OF THE 
GENERA OF THE MARINE BOLITOCHARINI 
(COLEOPTERA : STAPHYLINIDAE) 1 
By Ian Moore 
Department of Entomology, University of California, 
Riverside, California 92521 
Larvae of Staphylinidae are difficult to associate with adults 
except in some specialized habitats where few species are present. 
In the intertidal habitat it has been possible to associate adults and 
larvae when they are present. The present larva is identified by its 
size, color and association with adults. 
Rothium sonorensis Moore & Legner (1977) is a recently de- 
scribed genus and species of intertidal rove beetle from the Gulf 
of California belonging to the tribe Bolitocharini. 
Larva of Rothium sonorensis Moore & Legner 
Length 5.1 mm. Body elongate, slightly convex, parallel, sclerites 
pale brown with the center of tergite eight dark brown, appendages 
and intersegmental membranes cream with the ungues brown. Sur- 
face smooth and shining. Head subquadrate, a little longer than 
wide, with a small dark eye spot midway between the antennal fossa 
and the lateral margin; epicranial suture Y shaped. Clypeus nar- 
rowed and truncate in front, without teeth. Antennal fossa located 
at inner end of arm of epicranial suture. Antenna three-segmented; 
first segment a little longer than wide; second segment about one 
and one-half times as long as first and a little wider, widest near 
apex; apex bearing an “acorn seta” which is more than three times 
as wide and about as long as third segment; third segment about 
four times as long as wide, tapered to pointed apex which bears a 
short seta. Mandible arcuate, acute at tip, with a large central 
tooth internally. Maxillary palpus three-segmented with the first 
two segments subequal in length, the second a little narrower than 
first, third segment narrower and a little longer than second, nar- 
rowed gradually to pointed apex. Lacinia triangular, minutely 
1 Manuscript received by the editor December 28, 1977. 
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