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ROVE BEETLES. 



Family Staphylinidae. 



(Plate 30, Figs. 6 and 7.) 



These are easily distinguished by their short ely- 

 tra, which resembles the tegmina (cover wings) of 

 earwigs. In general appearance, too, the rove 

 beetles somewhat resemble the earwigs, having an 

 elongate body, and with the exception of the part 

 covered by the elytra, the whole abdomen is ex- 

 posed. (Plate 30, Fig. 6.) Hence the dorsal side 

 of the abdomen is much hardened, whereas in most 

 beetles the upper or dorsal side is softer than the 

 ventral, being protected by the elytra. Most rove 

 beetles have the habit of turning up their tails 

 when touched, so that enemies may think they sting, 

 and this is a probable means of protection from 

 predaceous insects. 



Rove beetles move very freely and usually 

 fly very well, having the flying wings tucked under 

 the cover wings. They are often found under logs, 

 in stables and near decaying animal or vegetable 

 matter. Some species capture and devour small 

 living creatures. We have noticed repeatedly a 

 slender little Rove beetle on the Woollahra Point 

 Beach. When one is seated on the grass on the 

 upper part of the beach, it alights on one's book or 

 clothes and turns up its tail now and again and then 



