California Beetle Project > Species Pages > Nitidotachinus agilis
Classification Scientific name: Nitidotachinus agilis Horn Order Coleoptera Superfamily Staphylinoidea Family Staphylinidae Images (click to enlarge)
What it looks like: 4.0-5.0 mm in length. Its body is tear-drop shaped, and rather flattened, with long, slender antennae. It has short elytra that leave most of the abdomen exposed. The abdomen has a combination of long and short hairs protruding from the edges. The legs are long and covered in short, bristle-like hairs. The entire body is shiny and displays varying shades of reddish-brown. Where you'll find it: This species ranges from Oregon east to Idaho and down to southern California and Arizona. Natural History: As adults, these beetles are mostly found in June and July and commonly occur in damp leaf litter near streams and ponds. This page was written by Maren Farnum, a 2005 California Beetle Project intern.
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