The Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle (Ocypus olens) is a large, distinctive rove beetle native to the UK and widespread across Europe. Growing up to around 3 cm long, it has a glossy black body, powerful jaws and unusually short wing cases that leave much of its flexible abdomen exposed.
When threatened, it raises its abdomen in a scorpion-like defensive posture, opens its jaws and may release a strong-smelling defensive fluid. Despite its intimidating appearance, it is not venomous and cannot sting.
Devil’s coach horses are mainly nocturnal predators, feeding on slugs, worms, insects and other small invertebrates. They are commonly found beneath logs, stones and leaf litter in gardens, woodland and grassland, where they play a useful role in controlling populations of other invertebrates.