General Description

Body black. Head red with a central black spot. Wing cases (elytra) short, covering the first few segments of the abdomen. Body up to 2 cm long.

Biology

Devil's Coach Horses eat maggots (fly larvae) and are usually found living in rotting animal carcasses. They belong to a large group of beetles characterised by their shortened elytra (modified, hardened forewings) and exposed, flexible abdomens.

Distribution

South-western, eastern and south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

Near or on dead animals.

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