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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Rove, Carrion and Fungus Beetles (Staphylinoidea) » Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae) » Large Rove Beetles (Staphylininae) » Staphylinini » Platydracus » Platydracus maculosus
Photo#217747
Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus
Copyright © 2008 Sam Houston

Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus
Sand Springs, Osage County, Oklahoma, USA
August 24, 2008
Size: 25mm (1")
Earwig? Adult or immature?
This thing was very aggressive. When agitated it would raise it's tail, similar to a scorpion, in a defensive posture. Can it sting or was it just trying to fake me out?
Also, in the last couple of pics you can see it has its wings out ready to fly, which it did. Notice the blue/black color of them. When I first found this it had its wings out like that and I thought it was some sort of wasp, which it obviously is not.
Please help with ID.

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Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus Rove Beetle - Platydracus maculosus
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Contributed by Sam Houston on 25 August, 2008 - 11:02am
Last updated 26 August, 2008 - 8:23am

Rove Beetle
look here
… Phillip Harpootlian, 25 August, 2008 - 11:15am login or register to post comments

 
....
That's a mighty big Rove Beetle!
… Sam Houston, 25 August, 2008 - 11:19am login or register to post comments

 
Yes:-)
One of our largest species in fact. In flight I sometimes mistake them for sphecid wasps (I mean, when the 'beetle' is in flight:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 25 August, 2008 - 3:47pm login or register to post comments

 
....
So, would this be Platydracus maculosus ?
… Sam Houston, 25 August, 2008 - 3:50pm login or register to post comments

 
You're right it is, -Adam
You're right it is,

-Adam
… Adam Brunke, 25 August, 2008 - 8:46pm login or register to post comments

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