large rove beetle

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Belonuchus rufipennis is a large, predatory, rove beetle. It is widespread in North America from the east coast to Ontario, and also occurs in Central and South America. It can be found in carrion, dung, decaying plant and fungi tissues, fermenting sap and fruit, and rotting organic matter in forest litter and tree holes.

Adults are slender, 3 ⁄16″ to ⅜″ (4.6 to 9 mm) long, and superficially resemble earwigs.

The head is black, shiny, and constricted behind the eyes forming a short but distinct neck. The neck is broad, more than half as wide as the head, and is clearly visible when viewed from above. The compound eyes are small and are not protruding. The antennae have 11 segments and are moderately clubbed. The bases of the antennae are closer to the compound eye than they are to each other.

The exoskeletal plate covering the thorax (pronotum) black, shiny, and longer than wide. It has two rows of 4 or 5 punctures on top and a row of 5 or 6 punctures on each side.

The abdomen is long, nearly parallel-sided, and flexible. The hardened wing covers (elytra) are reddish-yellow or reddish-brown and do not overlap. They are short, exposing the last six abdominal segments. The first four of these segments are reddish-yellow or reddish-brown, the last two are black.

The legs are reddish-yellow and short. On the front and hind legs, the third leg segment (femur) is more spiny on the male than on the female.

The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments.

Total length: 3 ⁄16″ to ⅜″

Decaying organic matter, forest litter, tree holes

The flexible abdomen is sometimes held upward, even when running. It looks threatening, but it does not sting.

Sources

24, 29, 30.

This species has no common name. The common name of the subfamily Staphylininae is large rove beetles, and it is applied here for convenience.

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota