Devil's Coach Horse (was - Can anyone identify this creature?)

humpysomething

Hi all,

Found this fella running across my living room floor. Caught him and put him outside. Camera battery died so didn't get a decent picture of him. When we let him out, he raised his lower body and looked ready to pounce. Never seen anything like him before.

chucken1

Hi,its a 'Devils coach horse'..

http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Devils-Coach-Horse

humpysomething

Thanks, he's safe enough then.

artieanna

I've come across about five of them in the last 7-10 days. One of them was very very big. They freak me out when I find them in the house (I think they come in with the turf) and give me the creeps, I always check the bed just in case...eeeoooouuu:eek:

John mac

the tend to come inside during the Autumn.

They dont bite or pinch , (never had one pinch or bite me)

artieanna

John mac wrote: »

the tend to come inside during the Autumn.

They dont bite or pinch , (never had one pinch or bite me)

I never intend to get close enough to find out:eek:

fryup

is it a type of ant?

Alun

fryup wrote: »

is it a type of ant?

No, a type of beetle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_coach_horse_beetle

Floody Boreland

Just to state they do bite. One got in my welly and bit me on the big toe. Sharp enough jab too.
Seen lots this past week. October must be their busy month.