See text Scydmaeninae are a subfamily of small beetles, commonly called ant-like stone beetles or scydmaenines.

These beetles occur worldwide, and the subfamily includes some 4,500 species in about 80 genera.

Established as a family, they were reduced in status to a subfamily of Staphylinidae in 2009 [1] Many scydmaenine species have a narrowing between head and thorax and thorax and abdomen, resulting in a passing resemblance to ants that inspires their common name.

Scydmaenids typically live in leaf litter and rotting logs in forests, preferring moist habitats.

A number of types are known to feed on oribatid mites, using "hole scraping" and "cutting" techniques to get through the mite's hard shells.