A to Z of Pests

Rove Beetles

Paederus riparius

Appearance

• Adult – 7–10 mm. Body colour is an alternating black and red.

Lifecycle

• Eggs laid singly on moist substances and typically develop in 3–19 days.
• The larvae pass through two stages before reaching adulthood.
• Adults are most common in spring and early summer.

Habits

• They are common in habitats with large numbers of fly larvae, e.g. decaying fruit or seaweed, compost.
• The larvae and adults are general predators of small insects and other arthropods, including pests of crops.