Rove beetle with two orange elytral spots

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks (24th Jan). Opening of tunnel wall.

Help with identification appreciated:



Bruce

[Dogghound]

Its Stenus bimaculatus

This is an active springtail predator.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Dan.........and for the added info too.

You know I thought I'd photographed this species before and I had - with your id I found my own pic in the Gallery posted last Feb .

Bruce

[Dogghound]

Always best to be careful with these Bruce there are a couple of very similar species to this.

[Rossco]

Hello Bruce,

Good photo. These staphylinids are right up there in my top five beetles. They've got some brilliant tricks, including fantastically elaborate mouthparts and a nifty way of evading their enemies. I wrote some stuff about them a while ago, abridged versions of which along with images can be found on my blog. See the links below.

It turns out their mouthparts aren't that good for catching springtails. It's thought they climb about through the vegetation using their telescopic mouthparts to snatch small prey animals, such as aphids, etc. that would otherwise be out of reach. Now, how about trying to get a photo of one of these beetles with its mouthparts fully extended or even catching some prey? Such a photo would be a first.

Ravenous rove beetles Scrubmuncher's Blog

Speedy water skimming beetles Scrubmuncher's Blog

[Ukwildlifeo]

Great photo Bruce. Ive found one a few years ago, one of the few rove beetles distinctive enough to easily work out what it is (though based on dogghound said perhaps only to genus)

[Bruce Williams]

Fascinating Ross! Thanks for the info and link to your blog entry - really interesting and some great SEM images too - I strongly recommend fellow WABers check it out.

Thanks for your comments Neil - appreciated as always.

Bruce