Review of mycophagy, host relationships and behavior in the New World oxyporinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Members of the monogeneric staphylinid subfamily Oxyporinae are adapted through various morphological and behavioral modifications for the exploitation of an ephemeral, heterogeneous, and irregularly occurring mushroom habitat. The principal morphological adaptations of species of Oxyporus involve modifications of the mandibles of adults and larvae; labial palpi and labrum of adults; and maxillae of larvae. Species of Oxyporus have a short developmental time to exploit this habitat. Parental care (subsociality) is displayed as an adaptation to avoid predation and/or parasitism on larvae thus increasing survival of the larvae. Five patterns of host selection within the Oxyporinae are proposed: 1) overall host selection broad with a moderately broad subset of preference; 2) overall host selection moderately broad with a relatively narrow subset of preference; 3) overall host selection relatively narrow with a well defined subset of preference; 4) overall host selection relatively narrow with no defined subset of preference; and 5) host selection is species specific. Known fungal hosts for New World species of Oxyporus are given.