Rugilus rufipes

Rugilus rufipes can be identified by its elongated body, which measures approximately 5-7 mm in length.{{Cite book |title=Staphylinidae (exklusive Aleocharinae, Pselaphinae und Scydmaeninae) |date=2012 |publisher=Spektrum Akad.-Verl |isbn=978-3-8274-1677-3 |editor-last=Assing |editor-first=Volker |edition=2. Aufl., hrsg. von Volker Assig und Michael Schülke |series=Die Käfer Mitteleuropas / begr. von Heinz Freude; Karl-Wilhelm Harde; Gustav Adolf Lohse. Fortgef. von Bernhard Klausnitzer |location=Heidelberg}} The beetle's coloration is primarily dark brown to black, with contrasting red legs and antennae. The elytra are relatively short, exposing several abdominal segments.

This species thrives in a variety of habitats, including forest leaf litter, under stones, and in decaying wood. Rugilus rufipes is particularly common in moist environments where organic matter is abundant.{{Cite book |last=Lott |first=Derek A. |title=The Staphylinidae (rove beetles) of Britain and Ireland. Pt. 5: Staphylininae, Piestinae, Oxytelinae / Derek A. Lott. Colour plates prep. by James Turner |last2=Turner |first2=James |date=2009 |publisher=Royal Entomological Society |isbn=978-0-901546-90-6 |series=Handbooks for the identification of British insects |location=London}}

Rugilus rufipes is a predatory beetle, feeding primarily on other small invertebrates. It is active throughout the year, with peak activity in the warmer months.{{Cite book |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-70257-5 |title=Biology of Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae) |date=2018 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-319-70255-1 |editor-last=Betz |editor-first=Oliver |location=Cham |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-70257-5 |editor-last2=Irmler |editor-first2=Ulrich |editor-last3=Klimaszewski |editor-first3=Jan}} The beetle plays a crucial role in controlling the populations of soil-dwelling pests.

The life cycle of Rugilus rufipes includes several stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larvae are similar in appearance to the adults but are smaller and lack fully developed wings.{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-642-81154-8 |title=Carabid Beetles in Their Environments |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-81154-8}} The species undergoes complete metamorphosis, with the entire cycle taking several weeks to complete under optimal conditions.

Rugilus rufipes is widely distributed across Europe and has also been reported in various regions of North America. The species is adaptable and can be found in both rural and urban environments.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Public Services and Procurement Canada |date=2002-07-01 |title=Checklist of beetles of Canada and Alaska / edited by Yves Bousquet. : A43-1861/1991E-PDF - Government of Canada Publications - Canada.ca |url=https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.818147/publication.html |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=publications.gc.ca}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite web| title=Rugilus rufipes Overview

| url=http://eol.org/pages/3391979/overview

| website=Encyclopedia of Life

| accessdate=2018-04-07

}}

{{Cite web| title=Rugilus rufipes

| url=https://www.gbif.org/species/4438752

| website=GBIF

| accessdate=2018-04-07

}}

{{Cite web| title=Rugilus rufipes Species Information

| url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/380219

| website=BugGuide.net

| accessdate=2018-04-07

}}

}}

{{refbegin}}

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| last1 = Brunke | first1 = A.

| last2 = Marshall | first2 = S.

| date = 2011

| title = Contributions to the faunistics and bionomics of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in northeastern North America: discoveries made through study of the University of Guelph Insect Collection, Ontario, Canada

| journal = ZooKeys

| issue = 75

| pages = 29–68

| doi = 10.3897/zookeys.75.767

| pmid = 21594139

| doi-access = free

| pmc = 3088045

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| last1 = Frank | first1 = J.H.

| last2 = Ahn | first2 = K.J.

| date = 2011

| title = Coastal Staphylinidae (Coleoptera): A worldwide checklist, biogeography and natural history

| journal = ZooKeys

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| last1 = Klimaszewski | first1 = J.

| last2 = McLean | first2 = J.

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| last4 = Savard | first4 = K.

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| display-authors = 4

| date = 2009

| title = Survey of rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with new records and description of a new species. Part 2

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| last1 = Klimaszewski | first1 = J.

| last2 = McLean | first2 = J.

| last3 = Li | first3 = A.

| last4 = Savard | first4 = K.

| date = 2009

| title = Survey of rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with new records and description of a new species. Part 1

| journal = ZooKeys

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| last1 = LeConte | first1 = J.L.

| date = 1861

| title = Classification of the Coleoptera of North America

| url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/85732

| series = Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

| publisher = Smithsonian Institution

| volume = 3

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| isbn = 0665100558

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| last1 = White

| first1 = Richard E.

| date = 1998

| origyear = 1983

| title = A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America (Peterson Field Guides)

| publisher = Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

| isbn = 0395910897

| url-access = registration

| url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780395910894

}}

{{refend}}

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• {{Commons-inline}}

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{{Taxonbar|from=Q14893873}}

Category:Paederinae

Category:Beetles described in 1836

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