rove beetle

any of numerous beetles of the family Staphylinidae, having a slender, elongated body and very short front wings, and capable of running swiftly.

Also called staphylinid.

[1765-75]

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▪ insect

      any member of the widely distributed insect family Staphylinidae (order Coleoptera), with over 20,000 species.

      Rove beetles are usually found around decaying animal and vegetable matter, preying on carrion-feeding insects. Most of them are slender and small (usually less than 3 mm, or ¹/₈ inch); the largest species, such as the devil's coachhorse (Staphylinus olens), are usually no more than 25 mm (1 inch). The short, thick elytra, or wing covers, protect the second, fully developed pair of flying wings. These functional wings can be unfolded rapidly from under the elytra when the beetle is ready for flight. They must be refolded carefully after use, however, often with the aid of both the abdomen and the legs, so as to fit under the elytra. When disturbed, the rove beetle raises the tip of its abdomen and may squirt a foul-smelling mist at its enemies. The wingless larvae resemble the adults.

      Some large species are a brightly coloured black and yellow, thus resembling wasps; other rove beetles mimic soldier ants in both appearance and behaviour. Lomechusa and Atemeles of Europe and Xenodusa of North America live in ant or termite hives. They secrete a fluid eaten by the ants and in return are fed by the ants.

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