Insect · GBIF taxon 5746121
Devil's Coach Horse Beetle
Ocypus olensAlso known as Cock-tail Beetle, Cock-tail
Devil's coach horse beetles are formidable nocturnal predators that roam gardens, hedgerows, and woodland floors in search of invertebrates. When threatened, they cock their flexible abdomen forward over their head like a scorpion and flare powerful curved mandibles in a dramatic threat display. From two white glands at the tip of the abdomen, cornered beetles can also discharge a foul-smelling chemical cocktail that deters curious predators.
NocturnalPredatoryInvertebrate
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Slugs
- Earthworms
- Woodlice
Predators
- Hedgehogs
- Toads
- Songbirds
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide use and tidy garden management that removes leaf litter
HabitatsWoodlands, hedgerows, parks, compost heaps, and damp garden leaf litter
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyStaphylinidae
- GenusOcypus
- SpeciesOcypus olens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Delivers a painful pinch with powerful jaws if handled; observe without touching.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with large, curved mandibles capable of breaking human skin, alongside abdominal glands that secrete a noxious chemical.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a solid matte-black elongated body, short elytra, and an abdomen raised overhead like a scorpion.
- What to do
- Never pick up by hand; guide the beetle into a cup with stiff paper if moving it outdoors.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Gently turn over damp stones, logs, or garden containers after dark to find them hunting.
- Shelter: Keep a patch of dead wood or leaf litter in the garden to support their natural pest control.
Prey (c) Bruce Marlin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Prey (c) Thomas Dalley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Dalley · cc-by
Predator (c) Michael Gäbler, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableSame Family
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