Unidentified insect

Can anyone tell me what this little critter is please?

 

It is about an inch long and has a tail which curls upwards. No wings.

 

It's a Devil's Coach-horse, a type of beetle.
Don't worry, they don't eat plants!

 

Hi,
Thanx for that I'll look it up when I get time. It's just that i've been gardening for a good few years and have never seen anything like it!
I wonder if thay are a beneficial pest control in some way? Hope they attack slugs or aphids.
Thanx for the info,
John

 

Hi John, as far as I am aware just about all beetles are a gardeners friend. David.

 

John,

That Devils Coach Horse took me back 30 yrs to when i went camping with my mum and dad. It frightened the living daylights out of me. Looks mean and nasty i thought but they are ok

Thanks for showing us :D

 

Mainly aimed at daitheplant and a slight change of subject.

My front (graveled) garden is awash with small spiders. I have no doubt that they will disappear in a few weeks. But I suspect they will be back next summer. Can I get rid of them and are they doing any harm?

 

Hi,Sa. Don't know of a spider in the world that damages plants. Arachnaphobics might not like them but they're useful creatures. If you spray the whole area with an insecticide it would probably get rid of them. But why bother? :confused:

 

In my compost bin i had a phase of flies. But then webs appeared around the edge, and i loved it. No more flies. Spiders are excellent useful predators in the garden.

 

John as Lavender says it's the devil's coach-horse beetle(staphylinus olens)can be classed as a gardeners friend they are becoming quite rare, it is a predator, hunting mainly by night, feeding on invertebrates including worms and woodlice, as well as carrion. The prey is caught in the mandibles which are also used to cut and together with the front legs to manipulate the food into a ball and swallow it as a mass.
John as caj. says spiders will do no harm best to leave them helps to keep foraging birds alive in the winter.

 

Thanx for all that folks.
John

 

Sarra, I like to see spiders in the garden, like worms they are working for us in the background, if, however, you want to get rid of them you would have to use an acharicide. Insecticides will not work, and I have never known a retailer who sold acharicides. David.