Help please to ID a weird bug!

[capobay]

Hi, I am not very good at ID things and I saw an odd thing yesterday and hope that 1 of you experts can help!

Basically it looked like a beetle with the wing cases missing..... It was about an inch long, and black all over. THe top 3rd had a hard shell just like a beetle. The bottom 2 thirds was black but bare of a wing case. when I poked its feelers gently its back end shot up over its back like a scorpion. ( Gave me a jump I can tell you!)

I went to get a cup and piece of paper to catch it so I could take photo but when I came back it had gone... don't know if it walked or had wings hidden somewhere (though I can't imagine where!)

Sound Familiar Anyone?!

thx

[Alan]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Sounds like a devils coach horse to me. There's a thread about it posted in the last couple of days.

Alan

edit: is this it on this thread: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ls+coach+horse

[Imaginos]

It does sound like some sort of Rove Beetle like the Devil's Coach Horse. They have reduced elytra (wing cases) which have the wings tightly folded under them, the 'scorpion pose' you describe is characteristic.

[Mr Mag00]

as above really

[capobay]

thx very much! I think that is it, I am about to do some reading up on the web now..........