These rove beetles have a long black body with a bright orange head which has black spots on it. They have short wing cases (elytra) and has the typical rove beetle ability to turn its body up. When threatened they produce a foul smell to ward off predators such as birds and will play dead. They have chewing jaws.
Adult size: 15-20mm
Out and about
Found in rotting animal carcasses and in damp areas. They are most active at night time.
They are native to Australia, found in South western, eastern and south eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Reproduction and Life cycle
The beetles will mate in autumn and the females will lay eggs in the carcasses of animals or generally in damp places amongst the leaf litter.
To deter
To control
Plants to repel
Plants to attract
Predators
Why they are Beneficial
Both the adult and larvae are predators. They will attack flies feeding on corpses, eat larvae (maggots) of all species of fly, including predatory fly larva, small slugs, beetle larvae and cutworms. They will tear open the pupal cases of flies in order to get to the larvae inside.
