Large, long-winged rove beetle ID (Cumbria, UK) (1 Viewer)

[gillean55]

Hello

I found this 2cm-long rove beetle on a boardwalk at the edge of a South Solway moss yesterday. Any ideas at to what it might be? Or at least the genus?

Thanks

Paul

 

[creaturesnapper]

Could be Staphylinus dimidiaticornis , but I think definitely Staphylinus sp.

 

[gillean55]

Many thanks creaturesnapper - Staphylinus dimidiaticornis looks like a good fit. I'll probably just record it as Staphylinus sp. to be on the safe side though.

Pardon my ignorance, but do most rove beetles have wings that much longer than their elytra? I can't see how they manage to pack them away!

 

[creaturesnapper]

I believe most have the ability to fold their wings ,under the elytra and unfold for flight.