# Help identify a bug **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 2, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152 "2004-07-02T01:43:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/1 "2004-07-02T01:43:39Z")
Unfortunately, I don’t have a digital camera handy, but I can describe it: A long bug, between 1/2 inch and 1 inch long. Its 6 visible legs are all in the front half of its body. The back half of it seems to be all “tail”. Picture a thin millipede, but it’s definitely not a millipede. No legs visible in that half. Nonetheless, that back half is segmented…it curls around. The very rear has two short, thin protrusions, reminiscent of an earwig’s behind. It’s black. Anyone have a guess? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/2 "2004-07-02T01:51:58Z")
I was going to suggest it’s a springtail, and point you to a picture. But it turns out there are many kinds of insect called ‘springtail’ by people, and none of the pics I saw matched what I myself call a springtail, and so I don’t think it is actually a springtail. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/3 "2004-07-02T01:58:04Z")
Devil’s Coach Horse? [http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(5).htm](http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(5).htm) [http://www.hlasek.com/staphylinus\_olens\_6422.html](http://www.hlasek.com/staphylinus_olens_6422.html) - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/4 "2004-07-02T02:00:46Z")
Huh. That first link works fine if you copy & paste - not sure why it won’t hotlink. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/5 "2004-07-02T02:32:49Z")
Definite possibility. Does it live in the Northeastern U.S? Specifically, upstate New York? The link only mentions species in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/6 "2004-07-02T02:55:00Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Definite possibility. Does it live in the Northeastern U.S? Specifically, upstate New York? The link only mentions species in Europe. Hmmm…dunno, come to think of it. They were introduced from Britain into California in 1931 ( they’re snail predators - natural pest control ) and are common in my area ( saw one about month ago at work ). Digging around the web I’ve seen a record from Salt Lake City, but I’m not sure about New York. I wouldn’t doubt it, necessarily. However even if that species ( the biggest, I think ) is not found around you, the family has near 3000 species in North America, many of whom look pretty similar. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/7 "2004-07-02T10:44:29Z")
Is there any particular reason why it isn’t an earwig? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/8 "2004-07-02T14:13:13Z")
I’ve seen plenty of earwigs,and I know this ain’t one, or at least it’s not the kind that I’m familiar with. The common earwig’s legs are centered/evenly distributed across its body length; this one’s legs were clustered at the front, with a long, legless, tail. The common earwig’s coloration is brownish-black, this is pure black. This bug’s tail-things are not as prominent as the earwig’s tail-pincers. The earwig’s body cross-section is somewhat ovalish, this one looks round. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/9 "2004-07-02T14:48:38Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Devil’s Coach Horse? [Staphylinus olens](http://www.hlasek.com/staphylinus_olens_6422.html) That is one butt-ugly bug (though the ant-like head isn’t bad). To the best of my recollection, I’ve never seen one like it here in the Midwest. Earwigs? Yes. This thing? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/10 "2004-07-02T14:55:17Z")
I know exactly what you’re talking about. I know this because I woke up with one on my chest at my brother’s house. It was big enough that I FELT IT standing there. shudder. We also had them at my college apartment. They’re FAST little creeps. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure anxious to find out. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/11 "2004-07-02T14:58:38Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > I woke up with one on my chest at my brother’s house. eep!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-bug/253152/12 "2004-07-02T16:32:42Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Devil’s Coach Horse? **Tamerlane** , thank you for posting that! I observed a number of those little buggers one day in a park in Millbrae, California, and I’ve never seen them again since. If I tapped my foot near them, they adopted that tail-up, mandibles-open threat pose, as in the picture. I’ve been wondering what they were for years. I’d never have guessed they were beetles; I was convinced they had to be some weird form of dermaptera.