Devil's coach horse beetle

Ocypus olens
Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)

CC-BY-SA 4.0 rights : RikenMon

Large long black beetle with a short shield that covers the folding wings. The rear section consists of 6 segments. The 5th shows a thin light edge with some small extrusions at the end. 

Likes moist places even in houses. When threatened it lifts its rear body, just like the earwig.  It can squirt a nasty smelling substance but does not pinch with its rear pincers. It also lifts its rear to push the wings below the shield. Its prey is cut in pieces with the strong jaws.

⇔ l. 5-30 mm

syn. STAPHYLINUS OLENS, Cocktail beetle, Devil's footman, Devil's coachman, Devil's steed

Used to be allied with the devil, hence its names.

LA:
≈ The STAPHYLINUS CAESAREUS has a brown-red shield with white markings. No Photo available.
Other family members are much smaller.

Where?

Family(2)

WWW info

Compare

Continu searching

Size

Shape

Colour

Leg

Back

Feeler

Wing