Insects and Spiders - non-native

Devil's Coach Horse Beetle (Ocypus olens) on Jan 4, 2020

Originally reported as Insect or Spider (unknown species) (various)

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

The creature has very short wing covers, only covering its thorax. It is all black and covered in tiny black hairs. It raises its back end line a scorpion when we move it, and opens its pinchers. It's slightly longer than an inch and unlike anything I've seen in this area before.

Commentary

Dear Brandon, this looks like the Devil's coach-horse beetle (Ocypus olens), a species of beetle belonging to the large family of the rove beetles (Staphylinidae). It is not a native species but from Europe. It is widespread in our area. It is a predatory beetle.
Thank you and best regards, Helmuth Rogg

Helmuth Rogg
Jan. 6, 2020, 12:50 a.m.