What in the world? I saw this little guy Saturday afternoon wiggling on my sidewalk and then fly away. It has six legs and antennae. It's abdomen was turning in a circle motion. The insects wings were not present when sitting there, but I am pretty sure the insect flew to it's current position because that is what drew my attention to it. It's thorax has crease or line down the middle. The insect also had mobility in it's neck. The tip of the abdomen is lighter brown/red compare to the remainder of the abdomen.
I have no idea what it is. Anyone have a clue?
Super cool little dude there! I believe it is a type of Rove Beetle. All of the Rove Beetles that I know of always hold their abdomens up like that. There are so many different types I can't identify it all the way down to species, but based on the abdomen behavior, short wing-covers and basic shape that's my guess.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for commenting on my unknown. I went ahead and edited it. You have the upper-hand since you were probably the first to read it. Haha!
I agree, it looks like a Rove beetle to me too. The body shape, with half of its abdomen exposed is a pretty distinct characteristic. They can live in ant like colonies and eat other insects in forest leaf litter.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great photograph. I went to my favorite field guide for insects, Kaufman's Field Guide to Insects of North America, and it looks like the Platydracus cinnamopterus shown there. This species is common in decaying matter. The book also describe the holding of the abdomen upright when alarmed.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I have never seen one of these before.Thank you for the education.
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