Comments for black mean ant looking insect (Rove Beetle)
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Comments for
black mean ant looking insect (Rove Beetle)

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I am glad I found this post.
by: Alicia

I live in Tacoma, Wa and before this summer I had never seen this insect. This bug freaked me out a bit and my daughter caught one tonight and wanted to know what kind of bug it is.
Found one in Seattle
by: Anonymous

I get the willies just looking at the picture. We found one of these in our office building. They don't live in colonies do they? I don't think I can handle seeing another one in person. The one we found was at least 1.25" long. I couldn't believe how agressive it was...yikes!
Rove beetle
by: Moni

Bob(Scotland)
According to one website Ocypus winkleri is the most common in the UK and therefore may be your beetle.
The Devil's coachorse beetle is a predator, hunting mostly at night, feeding on invertebrates including worms and woodlice, as well as carrion.
Please the comments at the post below.

Read more: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/hard-backed-insect-devils-coachhorse-beetle.html#ixzz0QHcvEcSB
found 2 together [scotland]
by: bob

got afright when moving wheelie bin one flattened other one had tail up as if ready to attack it got away
Rove beetle
by: Moni

Anonymous
Please! read the comments below yours....it tells you what this insect is. If you would like more information you may send in your photo for verification.
what the hell is this?
by: Anonymous

i found this bug in my home it looks like i huge ant headed black giant termite. its head looks like a bigger than carpenter ant head but same deep black. its tuff and moves its tale like pitchers when touched. my first thought was a super termite, but black. my son showed us that it has wings that it can take out and put back in. the wings are yellow gold color and a little like termite wings. we studies this bug sent photos to a local pest control, and the said it was blurry and looked like a weevil. no its no weevil anyone know?
rove beetle
by: Moni

Jacob
Glad you have identified your critter. Now you can let the class and teacher know it is not a scorpion but a rove beetle!
found in class
by: jacob

i live in germany and we found one crawling around in the class a few minutes ago it is wickedd.....when i got closer, its tail propped up and the pinchers got really big...crazy
lol my teacher thought it was a scorpion
Rove beetle
by: Moni

Joe
You have found a Rove beetle. Unlike most beetles the hard wings on the back only cover part of the abdomen(the tail section). Since you are in the Bay Area of California, you may have the Devil's Coach Horse rove beetle. These are 1 - 1.25 inches long...how long was the one you saw? This particular rove beetle is known for it's defensive posture...so besides the pinchers and tail raising they can also spray from stink glands.

Rove beetles are predators. If this is the Devil's Coach Horse rove then it eats snails, slugs and other pests. So, it might be a good critter to keep around in the garden.
Great find!

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