gold-and-brown rove beetle

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Gold-and-brown rove beetle is a medium-sized beetle but a large rove beetle. It occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada. In the U.S. it occurs from Maine to North Carolina, west to Minnesota and Arkansas, and in the Pacific Northwest, with just a few scattered records outside of these ranges. It is found from May to October in almost every terrestrial habitat, including woodlands, fields, and compost piles. Adults prey on flies and are seen mostly on carrion and dung but also on other decaying organic material, including fungi, fruit, and vegetables.

Adults are usually ½″ to 11⁄16″ (13 to 18 mm) in length but may be up to 13⁄16″ (21 mm) in length. The body is robust, long, and nearly parallel sided. It is brown with small patches of dense, dark hairs (setae).

The head is as wide as the thorax and is densely pitted (punctate). The eyes are large. The antennae have 11 segments. They are short, slender, and bicolored. The basal half of each antenna is yellowish, the outer half is black.

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the thorax (pronotum) is as wide as long, widest in front, and slightly tapered to the rear. The front corners of the pronotum are extended, angled forward, and sharply pointed. The surface is densely and finely punctate. On the underside the last segment of the thorax is covered with bright golden-yellow setae.

The abdomen is flexible. The tip of the abdomen is densely covered with bright golden-yellow setae. These hairs are iridescent, appearing to glow at some angles, like the bioluminescence of fireflies. The hardened wing covers (elytra) are slightly wider than the pronotum. They are short, exposing 5 or 6 abdominal segments. The surface is rough due to a covering of fine granules.

The legs are bicolored. The third segment (femur) of each leg is mostly dark brown to black. The tip of the femur and remainder of the leg are paler and yellowish. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has 5 segments.

Total length: ½″ to 11⁄16″ (13 to 18 mm)

Almost every terrestrial habitat, including woodlands, fields, and compost piles

May to October (CCESR)

The adult is a strong flier. It is difficult to photograph because it will quickly fly away when it detects movement. When threatened, it will raise the tip of its abdomen to contact the threat and release a chemical defense.

After mating, the male will guard the female while she deposits her eggs, preventing other males from mating with her.

Flies

Sources

27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Common

Ontholestes cingulatus gold and brown rove beetle

… on dog poop

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

… on dog poop