rove beetle

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Any of numerous beetles of the family Staphylinidae, often found in decaying matter and having slender bodies and short wing covers. Also called staphylinid.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A brachelytrous coleopterous insect of the family Staphylinidæ, especially one of the larger species, such as the devil's coach-horse. The name is sometimes extended to all the brachelytrous beetles, when several of the leading forms are distinguished by qualifying terms. Largeeyed rove-beetles are Stenidæ burrowing rove-beetles, Oxytelidæ; broad-bodied rove-beetles, Omaliidæ; small-headed rove-beetles, Tachyporidæ. The Pselaphidæ are sometimes known as moss-loving rovebeetles. See also cuts under devil's coach-horse (at devil), Homalium, and Pselaphus.

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of various carnivorous or scavenging beetles of the family Staphylinidae that are often found in decaying matter and have slender bodies and short wing covers.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Zoöl.) any one of numerous species of beetles of the family Staphylinidæ, having short elytra beneath which the wings are folded transversely. They are rapid runners, and seldom fly.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. active beetle typically having predatory or scavenging habits