Some structural details of the hind wings detected in staphylinids of 7 subfamilies (Coleoptera)

Abstract

Study of 41 species provided information as follows: (a) a setigerous lobe is located at the costal margin in every species in the subf. Staphylininae; (b) a setal comb occupies the same margin in Xantholinini and O maliinae; (c) one or more spinulae do line the anal fi eld of all O maliinae and most O xytelinae, Tachyporinae and A leocharinae; (d) number of these spinulae in A leocharinae ranges from 1 up to about 100 and is null in two species. Hypothetically, a functional importance may be attributed to both the setigerous lobe, which suggests a mechanical receptor for wing folding control, and to the flabellum-like anal fi eld of the Aleochara, which looks as a device affecting the flying trim.

Keywords

• costal margin, anal field, unpublished structures, supposed adaptations.