Paederus fuscipes Curtis

Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Staphylinidae

Length: 6.5-7.0 mm. Body elongate, dorsal side covered with numerous, fine, erect black setae; head more or less constricted posteriorly. Head and last two abdominal segments black, pronotum and first four visible abdominal tergites reddish-orange, elytra dark metallic blue, short, truncated and pad-like; mandibles and palpi testaceous, apex of third segment infuscate. Antennae 11-segmented, filiform, first 3-4 segments reddish brown, remainder darker, brown. Legs reddish brown, apices of femora, tibiae and tarsi darker brown. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed, moderately long, I segment small, II elongate, apically slightly thickened, III longer, obconical, IV small, obtuse, nearly as broad as the apex of III. Labial palpi 3-segmented, the last segment small and pointed. Elytra of normal length or reduced in apterous forms. Abdominal apex with a pair of stout spines. Tarsi 5-segmented.

 Head, ventral view (mp - Maxillary palpi)

     

Widely distributed in several parts of the world.

Both adults and larvae are predatory on several crop pests throughout the world. Commonly collected on crops such as rice, maize, and sorghum. The adults are known to cause contact dermatitis on human beings in several parts of the world (Armstrong & Winfield, 1969).