2020 December 14

 

   Ian Cooper recently photographed two small beetles at Colquitz River Park, identified for us by Charlene Wood as staphylinids (rove beetles).  The first is a bit too dark to identify safely below Family level. 

 

Rove beetle (Col.: Staphylinidae)  Ian Cooper

 

   The second (below) is in the genus Stenus, which, according to a Web reference, is reputed to be the largest genus in the Kingdom Animalia, with a reputed 56,000 species.   Charlene writes:   Stenus sp. are very cool, large eyed, rove beetles adapted to live at the edge of water margins. They can propel at high speeds across the surface of water by expelling “stenusol” from the tip of their abdomen, changing the surface tension and making them pretty fantastic predators in this situation. They also have a very long extendable labrum with sticky pads for grasping prey. 

 

Rove beetle Stenus sp. (Col.: Staphylinidae)  Ian Cooper

 

   And here, from the same place, is an immature male linyphiine spider, just possibly (Dr Bennett) a species of Neriene

 

Possibly Neriene (Ara.: Linyphiidae – Linyphiinae) Ian Cooper