Head to head
Devil's Coach-horse vs Bombardier Beetle
Devil's Coach-horse
VS Bombardier Beetle
The devil's coach-horse and bombardier beetle are two predatory beetles famous for their defences, one that bluffs and one that fires a genuine chemical weapon.
| Devil's Coach-horse | Bombardier Beetle | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ocypus olens | Brachinus (a genus of many species) |
| Appearance | A long, slim black beetle with short wing cases | Most are 5 to 15 mm long, typically dark with an orange-brown head and legs |
| Diet | Slugs, worms, and insects hunted at night, and carrion as well | Other insects and their larvae, while some larvae are parasitoids of other beetles' pupae |
| Threat display | Curls its abdomen up over its back like a scorpion and opens its powerful jaws | Fires a spray from the tip of the abdomen that can be aimed nearly anywhere around the body |
| Chemical defence | A strong-smelling fluid released from the tip of its abdomen | A hot, foul, caustic mix of quinones, made when hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones meet enzymes in a reaction chamber |
| Effect on predators | A bluff, since it has no sting, but enough to deter many predators | Repels ants, spiders, frogs, and birds, and toads that swallow one are often made to vomit it back up alive |
| Habitat and range | Gardens, woodland, and hedgerows across Europe | Worldwide except Antarctica, usually in damp places such as under stones, logs, and leaf litter near water |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated globally, though widespread and common | Not Evaluated |
Devil's Coach-horse vs Bombardier Beetle: common questions
Which beetle has a real chemical weapon?
The bombardier beetle, which fires a hot, caustic mix of quinones from the tip of its abdomen.
How does the bombardier beetle's spray work?
Hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones meet enzymes in a hardened reaction chamber, flashing to boiling point and blasting out in rapid micro-pulses.
Is the devil's coach-horse's tail raise real?
It is a bluff, as the beetle has no sting, but together with open jaws and a strong smell it deters many predators.