Xantholinus sp. – This is another case of ‘nature sometimes comes to you’. I found this tiny rove beetle … yes it is a beetle … in my bathroom sink just seconds from going down the plughole. I found a nice piece of moss for it outside, and as it was doing a run for it I managed this shot. Double click image if you wanna get closer …
© Peter Hillman ♦ 5th April 2020 ♦ In bathroom, Staffordshire ♦ Nikon D7200
Nature Journeys 
Good shot ! Like a bird in flight, only smaller, and probably harder 👍👍
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Thank you, Ted 🙂 They are always quite a challenge when they are moving. Had to ramp up the speed with this one.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen–or even heard of–these before. A quick Google check, however, tells me that there are at least 1,020 species here in New Zealand alone. Who knew?! Thanks for the introduction and the eye opener!
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We call the bigger one’s here ‘Devil’s Coach-horses’ which I always remember from a kid. The rove beetle family is the largest in the Coleptera order, and yet we do not always see them. The adults and the larvae are ferocious hunters of other invertebrates. You can see an example in the link below. Glad of the intro 🙂
https://petehillmansnaturephotography.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/mini-beast-battle/
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Gads, that was like an alley cat attacking a hippo!
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Lol! You so got me laughing here, Gary! Thank you 🙂
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Fabulously fascinating photo!
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Thank you, Liz 🙂 It never stopped moving so I had to try and snap it on the go.
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Excellent capture, Pete!
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Thank you, Eliza 🙂
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Little did he know he was visiting the right home! Your photos don’t usually have a rug in them😀Excellent shot, Pete.
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I just looked again….those look like plants… 😬
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I took it outside where I have a pot of moss growing and placed it on there. It ran to the rim of the pot and that’s where I got this shot. What look like plants/rug is the moss, that’s how small this critter was. It found a gap in the moss and hid inside 🙂
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Thank you, Jane 🙂 The warmer spring weather is certainly waking up nature now, and somethings are finding their way indoors. I always try to catch them when I see them and let them go in the garden 🙂
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The fact that this beetle was about to go down your drain is the closest you’ve come to bad/sad news since I started following your blog. And of course you rescued it! Just want to give a shout out to you for providing a space – every day – full of wonder and marvel at nature’s beauty and bounty. An appreciated respite.
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That is so kind of you, Rebecca, thank you very much for commenting so! 🙂
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It is as well you tell us it is a beetle!
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The rove beetles don’t look like your average beetle, but apparently they are one of the largest families within coleoptera.
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WOW wonderful shot, never seen one before.
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Thank you 🙂 They do hide themselves quite well generally.
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A lovely action shot!
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Thank you, Judith 🙂
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Great find and shot! I like that BG too!! 🙂
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Thank you, Indira 🙂 The BG is moss I have growing in a pot.
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Don’t you hate it when nature won’t stop and stand still for a photo? I’ve never seen a beetle like that, or moss like that either!
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It certainly can be a real challenge, Pam! 🙂
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What a cute and interesting little fella, if indeed a fella it is.
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I couldn’t catch it to find out, lol!
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Cool. This one’s a little on the hairy side too. Nice detail. I am always intrigued by the pockmarks on some of these armored beasts.
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Thank you, Steve. Yes those pockmarks are quite intriguing.
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