Devil’s Coach-horse
Fast Facts
Latin name: Ocypus olens
Notable feature: Long-bodied, uniformly black beetle that raises its rear end when threatened.
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated
Where in the UK: Across the UK in a variety of habitats
Devil's Coach-horse (Ocypus olens) © Ben Hamers
The ferocious invertebrate predator known as the Devil’s Coach-horse (Ocypus olens) belongs to the rove beetle family (Staphylinidae). There are approximately 1000 species of rove beetle found in the UK, which amounts to roughly a quarter of all British beetles. They were given this name as they are constantly on the move. The Devil’s Coach-horse is the largest staphylinid beetle in the UK.
Typical to this family, the Devil’s Coach-horse is a long-bodied, uniformly black beetle with an extended and exposed abdomen with shortened wing cases (elytra). Although, they can fly, they very rarely do. When they feel threatened, they adopt their recognisable defensive pose with their raised abdomen curled forwards over their body, and open their jaws. If they continue to feel threatened, they can emit a foul smell from their abdomen area via a pair of white glands. The Devil’s Coach-horse can deliver an impressive bite, so best to leave them be!
This beetle is common in the UK and is found throughout Europe. It also inhabits parts of Australasia and the Americas; however, it is not native to these areas, having been introduced. They can sometimes be mistaken for an earwig but when threatened its scorpion-like posture will give the game away!
The Devil’s Coach-horse occupies a wide range of habitats with damp conditions and is common in woods, hedgerows, meadows, parks and gardens, being seen between April and October. This beetle is also known to make its way indoors now and then, particularly in older properties.
- Size: Around 28mm
- Life span: Usually a year, however, if the weather conditions are mild, adults can remain active and survive a second winter. Alternatively, they will burrow underground and over-winter until the following March.
- Diet: Carnivorous predators. They feed on feed on slugs, worms, spiders, woodlice, a range of other invertebrates and carrion (dead items). For its size, the Devil’s Coach-horse has very large jaws (mandibles) which it uses to catch and cut its prey. With the help of its front legs, the food is then turned into a ball-like shape (bolus) which is chewed, passing through the beetles’ digestive system several times until it becomes liquefied and finally digested.
- Reproduction: Devil’s Coach-horse mate in autumn and the females will lay single eggs two to three weeks later in a damp, dark habitat such as leaf litter or moss. After around 30 days the larva will emerge, living mainly underground. These carnivorous larvae will feed on a variety of other invertebrates, possessing powerful jaws to catch and consume their prey even at this stage. They can even adopt the formidable defensive position of a raised tail and open jaws. The larva goes through three successive growth stages (instars). The third and final larval stage is reached after approximately 150 days when it is between 20 – 26mm in length. It’s at this stage that pupation begins, and an adult beetle emerges about 35 days later. It emerges fully formed but needs to stay inactive for a few hours to allow its wings to dry out before they can be folded beneath the wing case (elytra).
- When to see: Spring & Summer
- Population Trend: Unknown
- Threats: Not well known, but may be impacted through loss of habitat, pesticides, and light pollution.
- Interesting Fact: As far back as the Middle Ages this species has been associated with the Devil and was known in Ireland as Dar Daol which translates as ‘the Devil’s beetle’. Many myths and superstitions have surrounded the Devil’s Coach-horse, such as its ability to curse a person by pointing its upraised abdomen in their direction! Some also believed that the beetle had magic powers and it is believed by some that in Ireland, reapers used to improve their skills by putting a Devil’s Coach-horse in the handle of their scythes.
- Other names: Cock-tail, Devil’s Steed, Coffin Cutter (Isle of Man), Dar Daol (Ireland).
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