Ocypus ophthalmicus
Encyclopedia
Ocypus ophthalmicus is a species of rove beetle
belonging to the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Staphylininae
.
These beetles are present in most of Europe
, in the East Palearctic ecozone, in North Africa
and in the Near East
.
Head, pronotum and elytra have metallic blue reflections, with a shiny surface of pronotum.
The adults grow up to 17–22 mm (0.669291338582677–0.866141732283465 ) long. Ocypus ophthalmicus is a eurytopic species and can be encountered both in deciduous forests (Quercus spp., Fagus
spp.) and in xeric habitats. Generally they are found in detritus, under stones and on dung. They are nocturnal predators (especially of worms, snails, larvae, etc.).
They are known for their habit of raising their long abdomen and opening their jaws, like a threatened scorpion. In this defense posture, they secrete an irritating substance, with a a very unpleasant smell.
Rove beetle
The rove beetles are a large family of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra that leave more than half of their abdomens exposed. With over 46,000 species in thousands of genera, the group is the second largest family of beetles after the Curculionidae...
belonging to the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Staphylininae
Staphylininae
Staphylininae are a subfamily of rove beetles . They contain the typical rove beetles with their long but fairly robust blunt-headed and -tipped bodies and short elytra, as well as some more unusually-shaped lineages.-Systematics:...
.
These beetles are present in most of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, in the East Palearctic ecozone, in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and in the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
.
Head, pronotum and elytra have metallic blue reflections, with a shiny surface of pronotum.
The adults grow up to 17–22 mm (0.669291338582677–0.866141732283465 ) long. Ocypus ophthalmicus is a eurytopic species and can be encountered both in deciduous forests (Quercus spp., Fagus
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
spp.) and in xeric habitats. Generally they are found in detritus, under stones and on dung. They are nocturnal predators (especially of worms, snails, larvae, etc.).
They are known for their habit of raising their long abdomen and opening their jaws, like a threatened scorpion. In this defense posture, they secrete an irritating substance, with a a very unpleasant smell.
Subspecies
- Ocypus ophthalmicus var. atrocyaneus Fairmaire, 1860
- Ocypus ophthalmicus var. balearicus (J. Müller, 1926)
- Ocypus ophthalmicus var. benoiti Drugmand, 1998
- Ocypus ophthalmicus var. brigitteae Drugmand, 1998
- Ocypus ophthalmicus var. ophthalmicus (Scopoli, 1763)
- Ocypus ophthalmicus var. rodopensis Coiffait, 1971