Oxyporus rufus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Staphylinidae.
Length: 20mm. approx.
Flight Season: May to September
The family of Rove beetles, has over 1000 species mainly in central and southern countries of Europe.
Oxyporus rufus is a common beetle in the South of England, not so common the further north you go. The larvae and adults are found in various woodland toadstools, where the larvae will develop and feed on other larvae and insects, as they burrow through the mycelia (vegetative part of a fungus). It is likely the larvae overwinter in the fungi and pupate in during spring months. The adult beetles will burrow into the ground to over winter, then will emerge in May.
Habitat: Woodlands and woodland edges, hedgerows, favouring landscapes with large bush and shrub growth, providing shaded vegetation growth.
Adults are more common towards the end of the summer months and into the autumn months. Most active throughout daylight hours, hunting for other small insects. They are also omnivorous scavengers, (able to eat almost anything, feeding on plant and animal matter). Oxyporus rufus adults are very strong and skilled flyers, although the front wings (elytra) are short, the hindwings are enlarged and well developed, empowering its agility in flight.