2/27/2023: Michigan’s big flat dragons

The prime time for big bugs in Michigan is narrow temporally, a fact that my southern friends love to hammer home. My area is not without its treasures though, and even though some of our species have wide distributions it is incorrect to state that they are equally common at any given place throughout their range.

Platydracus maculosus is a huge rove beetle that is very common in quality woodlands of southeast Michigan. They are most noticeable in early fall as adults fatten up and prepare to overwinter, but can be found year-round in one form or another with enough skill and if you know where to look.

This charismatic species has the typical rove beetle body shape, more than respectable body size, and an adorable shimmery exoskeleton with a golden abdomen tip as the cherry on top. Though predatory, they are clumsily nervous when handled and not inclined to bite.

I’ve overwintered a group of adults I collected in the fall successfully and have put them into a communal set up in hopes of getting some eggs. Many of the staphylinids I worked with in the distant past were easy to breed, but eggs had to be removed immediately or else the adults or newborn larvae would eat them. Each larva should be reared individually and they eat a staggering amount of food. Though I dislike having to rear things individually, I’m enamored with this species enough to give it a go to see if I can at least double my starting numbers.

Perhaps the availability of this large, charming species would kickstart a captive husbandry interest in this gigantic and important yet neglected beetle group

-Kyle