Rove beetles are classified as the largest extant family of organisms with over 63,000 member species. Even fossilized specimens have been discovered, with some dating back to the Triassic period.
These beetles are separated into subfamilies, divided into several tribes consisting of genera.
Size: 0.039-1.57 in (0.1-4 cm)
Color: Varies greatly, from black to blue to brown, red to green to yellow.
Other Characteristic Features: Their elytra are short, covering only half of the abdomen. The abdomen is very flexible and elongated and is capable of folding into an origami shape.
The larvae are off-white, with a brown head.
Pupae are white, exarate, and unsclerotized, with the subfamily Staphylininae being the exception with a sclerotized body.
They are white, with shapes varying from spherical to pear-shaped to spheroidal.
| Lifespan | 40-72 days |
| Distribution | Worldwide, including Australia, South America, and Mexico |
| Habitat | Moist environments like sea shores, river banks, and decaying vegetation |
| Predators | Amphibians, bats, birds, certain beetles, reptiles, and spiders |
| Seasons active | Warm weather |
| Host Plants | Leaf litter |
| Diet of adults | Eggs and larvae of root maggots and insects like springtails and mites |
While these beetles do not sting or bite, species belonging to the subfamily Paederinae contain a toxin in their bodily fluids. One of the components of this toxin is pederin, a venom more potent than that produced by a cobra. Exposure to pederin causes a skin condition called dermatitis linearis.
