CAMIARINAE
Camiarines are setose, oblong, with a relatively narrow head and no occipital crest. Myrmicholeva, a neopelatopine, is the only leiodid with piercing, beak-like mouthparts.
COLONINAE
Colonines are rarely collected, but found worldwide. Pubescent dorsum, antennomere VIII not reduced, no epistomal suture, protarsi expanded in both males and females.
LEIODINAE
Leiodines (the classic edition of leiodids) have no occipital crest, antennal insertions dorsally concealed, and are typically small, round, and glabrous. Head tends to be broad and flat; epistomal suture never with "stem."
CATOPOCERINAE
Catopocerines have neither eyes nor wings. Additionally, tarsi 5-5-5, hind coxae well separated, abdominal spiracles functional. These two tribes look nothing alike.
PLATYPSYLLINAE
Very flat, oval, eyeless (or nearly so), with occipital crest overlapping pronotum. You are not apt to collect one of these unless you have purposefully manhandled an aquatic rodent.
CHOLEVINAE
Cholevines have a densely pubescent dorsum (in most), pronounced occipital crest, and an epistonal suture that's stemless or absent. Perhaps the most ubiquitous leiodid, especially in carrion traps. Weirdo tribe: Leptodirini, beloved in Slovenia and convergent on Glacicavicola.
ORITOCATOPINI
Ainsley's Leiodid Browser: Click on the tribe name for photos.
Thanks to Dr. Michael Ivie and MTEC for generous use of staphylinoid material and equipment. Catopocerine specimens courtesy Rolf Aalbu. Photographs taken with AutoMontage and Microptics systems.