It looks nothing like what one would expect a beetle to look like. It appears to be more like an earwig than a beetle, but it is indeed a beetle with short wing casings and a long narrow body. The rove beetle family Staphylinidae contains some of our smallest species of beetle. This little fellow only grows up to 7mm long.
Both the adults and the larvae of many species are predators of other invertebrates, and can be quite the gardener’s friend when keeping down pests like plant mites. Rove beetles have a habit of raising or flicking the tail end of their abdomen in warning, often spraying a noxious chemical. Gyrohypnus angustatus can fly, believe it or not, like many other rove beetles, or beetles in general.
It can be seen all year round, and can be found in various habitats. It is widespread and frequent.
Photographs taken August 2015, rear garden, Staffordshire.
Nature Journeys 