Staphylinid beetles as bioindicators

The family Staphylinidae is one of the largest beetle families and is distributed worldwide in almost all types of ecosystems. The morpho-ecological characteristics of staphylinid beetle adults and developmental stages are summarized, and features pertaining to their potential use as bioindicators are highlighted. Methods of study and practical examples are given for the application of staphylinids as bioindicators both in seminatural and cultural landscapes. The structure of staphylinid communities in biotopes with various management practices is described. Future refinements in identification and sampling methods should result in increased use of staphylinids as bioindicators, possibly in combination with studies of other insects competing for the same resources. (C)1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.