spores and hyphae of fungi, as well as other organic detritus. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, including rotting and fungus infested wood, tree holes, under kelp along shorelines and within or near ant and termite nests. Evolution Fossil ptiliids have been recorded from the Oligocene, roughly 30 million years ago from the Eocene, 46.2–43.5 million years ago, and from the Cretaceous Lebanese and Burmese amber, dated to 125 and 99 million years ago, respectively. References External links Family description on Tolweb Beetle families Staphylinoidea