ROVE BEETLE
Platydracus mysticus
ROVE BEETLE FAMILY (Staphylinidae)
This beetle is almost 1 inch long. It is black with a reddish tinge on the elytra and a reddish tip to the abdomen. It was identified to genus by experts at Bugguide.net. The other Platydracus beetle on Nature Search lacks the reddish coloration.
This beetle was found on the Geology trail at Camp Brewster. Its overall occurrence at Fontenelle Forest is not known. Members of the Platydracus genus are widely distributed throughout Eastern N. America.
Rove beetles are sleek and snakelike and often are mistaken for earwigs. When flying rove beetles are often mistaken for large wasps. Most rove beetles are predators as adults and larvae, living in a variety of niches. None are harmful to humans and many are beneficial as predators on insect pests.
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