Velleius dilatatus

Taxobox | name = "Velleius dilatatus"

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Coleoptera
familia = Staphylinidae
genus = "Velleius"
species = "V. dilatatus"
binomial = "Velleius dilatatus"
binomial_authority = Fabricius, 1787The rove beetle "Velleius dilatatus" lives together with the European hornet "Vespa crabro crabro".

"Velleius dilatatus" is up to 26 mm long. It feeds on detritus produced by the hornets (commensalism). The beetles cannot survive without the hornets themselves, even if there is enough detritus present.

It finds hornet nests by its very good sense of smell. Most nests contain an average of ten "V. dilatatus".

External links

* [http://www.vespa-crabro.de/hkaefer.htm "Velleius dilatatus" (German)]