Trichophyinae

Trichophyinae is a small staphylinid subfamily with only 21 described species, all classified in a single genus Trichophya. They can be easily recognized from other Taiwanese Staphylinidae by unusually thin antennae.

Habitus of Taiwanese Trichophya, showing the differences between T. thor and the remaining species.

Four species of the genus are known from Taiwan, all endemic for the island:

• T. keris Hu, Ho & Fikáček, 2026^[1]
• T. kurosawai Shibata, 2001^[2]
• T. maui Hu, Ho & Fikáček, 2026^[1]
• T. thor Hu, Ho & Fikáček, 2026^[1]

All four species have been collected in leaf litter of montane forests at elevations of 1300–2200 m, and seem to be Palaearctic elements of the Taiwanese fauna.

Morphologically, Taiwanese species form two groups: T. kurosawai + T. keris + T. maui have a broader body, relatively longer elytra, and head and pronotum with scale-like microsculpture. In contrast, T. thor is more elongated, has shorter elytra, and the head and pronotum are smooth among the punctures. All four species can be easily recognized by the male genitalia.

Male genitalia of Taiwanese Trichophya species.

References

^[1] Hu F.-S., Ho B.-H. & Fikáček M. (2026): Revision of the genus Trichophya from Taiwan, with description of three new species (Staphylinidae: Trichophyinae). Taiwania 71(4): 667–674. DOI

^[2] Shibata Y. (2001): A new species of the genus Trichophya (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Taiwan. Elytra 29: 352–357.