Oxytelus incisus is a species of rove beetle belonging to the family Staphylinidae and subfamily Oxytelinae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution across multiple continents.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by the Russian entomologist Viktor Motschulsky in 1857, with the type locality given as the East Indies. The genus name Oxytelus derives from the Greek words oxys ("sharp") and telos ("end"), referring to the elongated body form. The specific epithet incisus is derived from the Latin adjective meaning "cut into" or "incised."
Several junior synonyms have been recognized, including Oxytelus bledioides Blackburn, 1885; Oxytelus cordovensis Bernhauer, 1910; Oxytelus ferrugineus Kraatz, 1859; Oxytelus laevior Sharp, 1874; and Oxytelus laxipennis Fairmaire, 1893.
Description
Adults measure 3.0–3.7 mm in length and exhibit the slender, elongated body form characteristic of rove beetles. The body is generally dark brown to blackish, with lighter reddish tones on the legs and antennae. The head is prognathous and subpentagonal in shape, widest at the eyes, with a densely punctate disc. The antennae are 11-segmented and filiform. The pronotum is longer than wide, and the tibiae bear distinct spines, a key identifying trait for the genus Oxytelus. The elytra are short and rectangular, covering only the basal portion of the abdomen. Sexual dimorphism is present, with males possessing longer, more prominently spinose tibiae and slightly larger eyes compared to females.
Distribution and Habitat
Oxytelus incisus has a wide distribution, native to Asia and introduced to the Americas and the Galápagos Islands. It is well-documented across Asia, including extensive records from China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, and Southeast Asia. In North America, it occurs in Canada and the United States, with the first record from Florida reported in 1981. It is also present in Central and South America, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, and throughout the West Indies. In the Galápagos Islands, it is regarded as an introduced species, likely arriving accidentally via contaminated soil or vegetation.
The species is primarily coprophilous (dung-associated), commonly found in dung from cows, horses, tortoises, and other herbivores. It inhabits disturbed environments such as agricultural fields, grasslands, and forests ranging from arid to humid conditions. It is also found in leaf litter, soil, and under bark.
Ecology and Behavior
Oxytelus incisus is reported to prey on small arthropods such as dipteran larvae (maggots) within dung pats, though it is also described as feeding on decaying organic matter. It plays a role in decomposition ecosystems by inhabiting nutrient-rich microhabitats. The species is frequently collected using dung-baited traps, flight intercept traps, and light traps. Its global spread is believed to be facilitated by human activities such as international trade.
