Fun Rove Beetle Facts For Kids

A rove beetle is a big insect that belongs to the largest family of North American insects. The rove beetle (scientific name: Staphylinidae) belongs to the genus Stenus, and they are a large and slender species. This family (Staphylinidae) has around 4000 different species of insects, including the hairy rove beetle species.

A rove beetle lays eggs daily, and the eggs go through three stages in their life cycle. From the first stage of being an egg to larvae, then to pupae, and then finally, they become adult rove beetles.

These insects can both fly and run as they have well-functioning legs and wings, but mostly they prefer to stick to the ground and walk it out.

Here on our page, we have lots of amazing facts on rove beetles that everyone will enjoy. Let's look at these interesting facts, and if you like these, then do read our facts about the armadillo and the puss moth too.

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Rove Beetle Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a rove beetle?

Rove beetles are insects that feed on other smaller insects and decaying organic matter such as dead plants.

What class of animal does a rove beetle belong to?

A rove beetle is an arthropod that belongs to the class of Insecta.

How many rove beetles are there in the world?

The exact rove beetle population is unknown, but it is estimated by entomological studies that there are about 4000 species that belong to the rove beetle family. These insects are not at risk of becoming extinct as there are more than millions of these insects found around the world.

Where does a rove beetle live?

Rove beetles are found worldwide but are more prominently seen in North America and Canada. These species of insects are found under rocks, on plants, on corn tassels, and in freshwater margins or on leaf litter.

What is a rove beetle's habitat?

The typical rove beetle habitat includes spaces under rocks, debris, plants, and leaf litter. When it comes to their nest, they prefer soil and decaying organic matter. They can also make their homes in your homes if you have any moist surfaces, perhaps in your basement.

Who do rove beetles live with?

When we observe the rove beetle's social behavior, they act much like families of ants and termites living together, in colonies of their own species. Female adults of this insect lay eggs daily and are capable of laying more than 700 eggs in their lifespan.

How long does a rove beetle live?

The rove beetle life cycle takes about three weeks, and this is how long it takes for the beetle to become an adult. The adults are known to live for a long period of time. A study regarding their exact lifespan as adults has not been conducted.

How do they reproduce?

After reaching maturity, these insects mate, and the females proceed to lay around six to eight eggs every day for two weeks. After two to three days, the eggs then hatch into larvae. Rove beetle larvae are whitish-cream in color.

What is their conservation status?

Rove beetles have been given the status of Least Concern by the IUCN. They have a steady population all around the world.

Rove Beetle Fun Facts

What do rove beetles look like?

Rove beetles (adults) are large-sized insects with slender bodies and come in different colors like brown, black, yellow, and reddish. These beetles have wings called elytra, and the elytra are so small that the abdominal segments of rove beetles are usually exposed, and they appear like pads on the abdomen of this insect.

How cute are they?

Rove beetles are not considered to be cute. Insects of this nature mostly just make our skin crawl a little!

How do they communicate?

Rove beetles (adults) use chemicals, also known as pheromones, as well as sound to communicate with each other. An adult beetle makes noises by scrapping their mouthparts together or rubbing their legs on their bodies. They also recognize each other by their scents as females have different scents to males.

How big is a rove beetle?

The typical rove beetle size differs as they are found in different sizes and shapes. Some are slender and long while some are oval. Their length can be 1.4 in (3.5 cm) long, and they are three times bigger than most ants.

How fast can a rove beetle move?

It has been observed that when these beetles feel threatened, they lift their abdomen and sprint away quickly. Even though they possess wings and are capable of flight, they prefer to run on the ground. Interesting, right?

How much does a rove beetle weigh?

The insect rove beetle weighs around 1.8 oz (50 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

They do not have gender-specific names.

What would you call a baby rove beetle?

Depending on the stage of their life cycle, young rove beetles are called rove beetle pupae or larvae.

What do they eat?

These beetles feed on small insects and decaying organic plants, root maggots, and some soil insects. Young ones start to feed on small insects as soon as they are born.

Are they dangerous?

Rove beetle bites or stings are not a risk, but these beetles can cause skin rashes, blisters, or irritations when they accidentally brush against the human skin. This provokes them to release a harmful chemical compound containing pederin, which causes blisters.

Would they make a good pet?

Due to their short life span, specific habitat, and diet, rove beetles are not considered good pets. They belong in the wild.

Did you know...

Some rove beetle species are very old and can be dated as far back as 200 years old. Their fossils have been dated to the Triassic period!

The most common rove beetle in North America is the gold and brown rove beetle.

All though these insects do not bite or sting, rove beetle poison contains a toxin called 'pederin' that causes irritation if it comes in contact with our skin.

The smaller species of rove beetles are known as 'paederus', and some species of the genus Aleochara are Carrion feeders.

Rove beetles may be small but they are known as predators of smaller insects and invertebrates!

How to cure a rove beetle bite?

A common rove beetle bite cure involves washing the affected area with soap and water. It helps to use a cold compress, antibiotics, or organic aloe vera gel. This gel should soothe the area with the rove beetle sting.

How do you get rid of rove beetles?

Rove beetle in-house infestations may be caused by multiple reasons. They may be attracted to a dead animal (perhaps a mouse caught in a mousetrap) around the house.

Removing the dead animal will help to rid the area of the rove beetle infestation. You can also clean all the damp areas around your home where they may be breeding and keep your lawn grass short. And finally, you may use chemical-free insecticides directly in the affected area.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods, including the firebrat or coral snake.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Rove beetle coloring pages.