Emergency - classifying an insect

**thyristor** · August 16th, 2011, 06:52 PM

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Hi!
A few minutes ago I found the nasty insect in this picture: ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting and the one above in our garage. I have recently been abroad, so I fear that it might be a cockroach (I am very afraid of them) that has travelled as a stowaway in my bags. To my relief however, I do not think it is a cockroach, based on my rudimentary knowledge in the field. If somebody knows what it is, please let me know.

Thanks in advance!

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**random** · August 16th, 2011, 07:19 PM

Not a roach.
Not sure what it is, but not a roach. Looks like some sort of strange earwig?

german_cockroach.jpg
The above is a German Cockroach, or as we call them here in Houston, Texas, "the little ones."

american-cockroach-2.jpg
This other one is the American Cockroach.
Or as we call them here,"Those three-inch giant flying roach terrorists that like to land in your hair and/or run up your pants legs and/or join you in bed." EEEKKKK.

**thyristor** · August 16th, 2011, 07:29 PM

Thanks! You really saved me there. You're right, it looks like some sort of strange earwig.

**Paleoichneum** · August 17th, 2011, 01:09 AM

You need to look in the Beetle order actually! This looks to be a larger member of the rove beetle family (Staphylinidae), Its an active predator and was prob going for the spiders and other garage dwellers. If it was found in the US or Canada you could post the image on the website Bugguide.net and get a more specific answer.