Rove Beetle ID please

[Nettle Runner]

I considered Staphylinus erythropterus, but rejected it as I felt it wasn't quite right. Antenae and length didn't seem right, also abdomen markings conflicted with some of the images I checked.

Any suggestions please.
Les

[Paul mabbott]

I don't think I'm going to be able to help with this but what was the length?

Originally Posted by Nettle Runner

I considered Staphylinus erythropterus, but rejected it as I felt it wasn't quite right. Antenae and length didn't seem right, also abdomen markings conflicted with some of the images I checked.

Any suggestions please.
Les

[Nettle Runner]

Sorry Paul, I meant to add the length. near to 20mm
Les

[GRH]

There are a couple of genera with patches of gold hairs on the abdomen - Platydracus and Staphylinus (all lovely beasties!). I believe I can just see some gold hairs on the head (do you have a better head shot?), and this, along with the gold hairs on the pronotum, rounded hind-angles of the pronotum and size would make this Staphylinus species (20mm too big for Platydracus). However, S. erythropterus does not have gold hairs on the pronotum, which would make this Staphylinus caesareus, which isn't nearly as rare as some texts say it is! (Admittedly these texts are old, so it may just have increased over the years).

Greg

[Nettle Runner]

Thanks for your comments GRH and further clues as to the ID.
Here is a head shot which might help with a positive ID



I usually search 'The Coleopterist' for visual clues, but did not find an image for Staphylinus caesareus. If it is S. caesareus, the we could be contributing information regarding the spread of this sp.
Les

[Carl]

To me it looks like a rove beetle:
Beetle Gallery 2
It`s the 3rd one and keep comparing it to yours mate looks the same to me.

[GRH]

I've just learned that Staphylinus caesareus is sometimes confused with another species which is not included in Joy (its presence in UK was not known at the time and was split at a later date). I do not have identification details and cannot confirm this is Staphylinus caesareus without them. That's the problem with a lot of invertebrate studies in this country - not only do you need an out-of-print, rare, expensive book to do them, you need all the out-of-print updates published since then to be accurate! Your best bet is the Beetles British Isles yahoo group. Sorry can't help more.

Greg

[joanna]

hello, i would think its a staph. Oxytelinae, with 11 segments(antennae), not really sure but it does help if you say where you found it, what kind of plantation was there around there? jo

[JonSadler]

I think Greg is correct here. It looks like a Staphylinus and yes there are two species hiding under 'caesareus'. I am not sure that anything has been published. The beetle forum is certainly worth a go - you can join easily enough as it is a Yahoo group. The details are on the Coleopterist web site:

The Coleopterist

If you get a chance try a local museum collection. There are not many species in this genus and you might be able to check it quickly. I notice you are in Dinnington - there is a great collection at Doncaster Museum formerly curatored by Peter Skidmore (he is now retired).

Regards

Jon

[Dogghound]

Yes definately one of the Staphylinus sp two closely related species are Staphylinus caesareus which is quite common, i also think this is it looking at the elytra, thorax and head hairs, and another similar species Staphylinus erythropterus which has a slightly different hair structure, and is assosiated with more heathland.