Rove beetles are mainly found in warm, humid farmland and waterside environments.

Rove beetles are the collective name for insects in the family Staphylinidae of the order Coleoptera. They are extremely diverse and highly adaptable, and except for a few regions that are cold year-round, their traces can be seen in most parts of the world. Overall, they prefer warm, humid environments, so they are often easier to find in low-elevation plains and hills than in cold high-mountain areas.

As for where they live specifically, rove beetles like to hide in damp, concealed places, such as beside paddy fields, along ditches, near ponds and streams, and under field ridge grasses, leaf litter, stones and rotting wood. They are also often active in vegetable plots, orchards, straw piles and piles of decomposed organic fertilizer. At night they show obvious phototaxis and are often attracted by lights into farmhouses and dwellings.

In terms of season, rove beetles are most active from late spring to autumn, and their numbers usually peak during the hot, rainy summer. The activity period is longer in the warm, humid regions of the south than in the north. The so-called toxic rove beetles often mentioned by people are relatively common in the southern provinces of China, Taiwan, China and Southeast Asia, and are a group that requires special attention.

For agricultural production, most rove beetles prey on small pests and can be considered beneficial insects in the field; however, a few species have body fluids containing toxins, and skin contact may cause rove beetle dermatitis. When working under lights or in the field on summer and autumn nights, it is advisable to properly cover exposed skin. If a beetle lands on your body, you should gently blow it away or shake it off, and do not swat it directly.