Intertidal Soft Winged Flower Beetle: Endeodes insularis

Subject: California Rove Beetle
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
November 13, 2013 11:16 am
I knew EXACTLY who to turn to for an unknown California bug! hese cool, really small rove beetles (I’m pretty sure that is what they are) were common on the rock faces above the ocean in Laguna Beach, CA. I’ve tried to pin a name on them but have had no luck. So any help with an ID is much appreciated. Dave
Signature: Dave Moskowitz – Bug Addiction and National Moth Week

Hi David,
How nice of you to think of us for your identification, and we are pleased we did not disappoint you.  The only way we managed to identify your wingless Intertidal Soft Winged Flower Beetle, Endeodes collaris, or a closely related species, is because it was also described on BugGuide as being like a Rove Beetle.  According to BugGuide, the genus is found in the “Pacific coast of NA” and the habitat is listed as “intertidal zone, dry rocks & sand, sometimes moist seaweed.”  Somehow, a wingless Soft Winged Flower Beetle sounds a bit oxymoronic to us.

That is awesome! Thanks! Amazing, how quickly you found it! Hoping all is great on your end! Dave

You are most welcome Dave.  Over the years, we have learned that the right key words can lead to to an answer quickly on the internet.  We looked up the names of the recognized marine ecosystem zones, and “intertidal” turned out to be the word that found us the image that led to the identification.