Jet-black with an even darker reputation. The devil’s coach horse has long been associated with sinister forces. In reality, it is only other invertebrates that have cause to fear this voracious predator.
Common name: devil’s coach horse beetle
Scientific name: Ocypus olens
Family: Staphylinidae
Habitat: woodland, grassland, urban
Diet: insects and invertebrates
Predators: birds, mammals
Origin: native
Adults: have a long, uniformly black body, short wing cases and a long, thick abdomen. When threatened, the beetle raises its abdomen in similar style to a scorpion and opens its powerful jaws. A relatively large beetle, it can grow up to 3cm long.
Larvae: are long and black, but often have brown legs.
Credit: Dave Bevan / Alamy Stock Photo
Powerful predators of the insect world, the devil’s coach horse feeds on a range of invertebrates. Worms, slugs, caterpillars, spiders and woodlice are all among the prey taken. Fast moving, the beetle uses its powerful jaws to catch prey on the ground. The species is capable of flying, but is rarely seen in the air.
This species has been associated with evil since the Middle Ages. It was thought to be able to curse people by pointing its raised body in their direction.
After mating in the autumn, the female lays a single egg in a damp area like moss or leaf litter. Once hatched, the larvae live and feed underground preying on other invertebrates. After several months, the larvae enter pupation and emerge in adult form around one month later.
Credit: Gillian Pullinger / Alamy Stock Photo
The devil’s coach horse is common across the UK and occurs in a variety of habitats including woodland, grassland, gardens and hedgerows.
In Ireland it was believed the beetle could strike a person dead on sight and would eat sinners!
Devil’s coach horse beetles are nocturnal, spending the day hidden under stones or fallen leaves. If you disturb a beetle it will adopt its defensive pose and may even release a foul-smelling secretion. Be careful, as the species’ strong jaws can give a painful bite.
Credit: Larry Doherty / Alamy Stock Photo
The Devil’s coach horse is common and widespread across the country, with no specific threats.
The devil’s coach horse is a member of the rove beetle family, which contains close to 1,000 species in the UK alone.
