EnglishWhat a very interesting name for this rather sinister black beetle with an evil reputation. Other names are devil’s footman, devil’s steed or cock tail beetle. In Ireland it is also called the coffin cutter. This beetle has been associated with evil since the Middle Ages It was thought to be able to curse people by pointing its raised body in their direction. In Ireland it was even thought that it could strike a person dead on sight and would devour all sinners.
It is the largest member of the rove beetle family which contains close to 1000 species in the UK. It is very common and widespread and can be found from April to October in meadows ,moorland ,parks, woodland and gardens, The adult can grow to 3cm in length. It has a long black body with a thick abdomen. When threatened it will raise this like a scorpion and open its powerful jaws and give off a pungent defensive smell from two glands at its end of its body. It has short wings but rarely uses them.
It is harmless although its habits make them unappealing. It is found in decaying matter especially under leaf litter and dead animals and it likes to be under stones. It eats invertebrates including worms, slugs and spiders. It is not poisonous but bites from them can be painful. It will emit a foul-smelling odour after raising its hind end up and will then strike if threatened. The bite contains a poison called pederin which can cause the affected area to blister and burn for up to 3 weeks It is important therefore not to scratch this area as it can become infected. The devil’s coachman is not considered a public health pest, but it is still not a nice animal to have in your home. Sealing doors and windows and removing food will discourage them from entering.
Reproduction is in autumn when the female lays one egg at a time in a damp dark place such as in leaf litter. The egg is large and white with a darker band. The larvae emerge after 30 days and are white with a straw-coloured head. They live mostly underground. Like the adult the larva is a predator eating similar food. It has three successive growth stages called instars. After the final one the larva will pupate and will remain as a pupa for about 35 days. They may survive for a couple of years but they do have enemies including man, birds foxes and badgers to name a few so it would be unusual for them to live to that age.
It is a valuable predator to have in the garden as they hunt pests like slugs, caterpillars, weevils and cutworms all of which are hated by vegetable and flower gardeners. You can find these beetles during the day although they commonly stay hidden. At night they come out to hunt but because of their dark colouration and their ability to run very fast they may not be seen.
As they are such beneficial insects they should be encouraged into the garden by providing suitable damp areas such as compost heaps, log piles and moss covered rocks. Once seen they will never be forgotten!
BUILDING A BEETLE PITFALL TRAP
A pitfall trap is a simple device to catch invertebrates that spend most of their time on the ground
YOU WILL NEED:-
A trowel or small spade
An empty yogurt pot
A tray
A notebook and pencil
1. 1. Look for a flat bit of ground near to flower beds, compost heaps, hedges or shrubs.
2. 2. Use the trowel to dig a small hole
3. 3. Place the yogurt pot in the hole. Fill any empty spaces around the pot with soil. The top should be level with the ground so that the creatures walk and tumble into it.
4. 4. Leave the trap overnight Its important to look at the trap the following morning
5. 5. Empty the trap into a tray or basin to see what has been caught. With the help of books guides and the internet identify the animals
6. 6. Record your findings making sure you make a note of the date location weather and what the animal is. You could also photograph it or draw a picture of it.