Devil's Coach Horse Beetle

Natural Habitat

Damp areas, gardens, woodland floors, and under stones or leaf litter.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; feeds on invertebrates like slugs, snails, spiders, and caterpillars.

Behavior Patterns

Mainly nocturnal; notable for raising its abdomen like a scorpion when threatened (a defensive posture) and emitting a foul-smell from its tail glands.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial to ecosystems as a predator of garden pests. While not venomous, it can deliver a painful bite to humans if handled.

Identified on: 6/28/2026