Devils Coach Horse Visison?

[mundanemantis]

So! I managed to find a devils coach horse out my backdoor today while doing a wee bug hunt with my little cousin. I've kept these beetles plenty as a kid, but haven't seen one in a few years now, so it was a very pleasant surprise. I noticed something very interesting about them today however,, they seem VERY aware of their surroundings, and when id be close by to or approach their temporary container, they'd threat pose and charge at whatever direction I was in with their mandibles open. I'm curious if these critters have good eyesight, or what? Just super interested as its something I either never noticed or the ones I kept didn't do when I was younger.

 

[Hakonoko]

Hello,

They live in tunnels under stones, hunting various prey underground that's why they need no nice vision.
Best regards

 

[HooahArmy]

Back when I used to visit my dad in the UK and travel around with him, I would see these fellows all over the place and called them 'Bull Bugs', since they do like to charge you like a Spanish fighting bull. I did a report about them and other local beetles back in the days in grade school, so I did share your question about their senses! Like Hakonoko mentioned, these fellows hide often and don't have good eyesight as a result, but unless you were a curious kid like me who went around flipping rocks and logs, they were shy. When threatened, these guys use their hard chitin carapaces as their defense and their jaws to scare a potential predator off. Most predators don't expect a big black pinching monster to start running at them, so they flee and abandon their hunt; the attitude of the Devil's Coach Horse being a very effective defense. That fearless charge may be the reason why they are called a 'Devil's Coach Horse' in the first place, since according to my research, coach horses that kicked and spat at strangers were better at warding away highwaymen in the days. This fellow is so well-known for their attitude, I suppose the 'devil' part made it in there too.
Secondly, their desire to approach may also play into their tertiary defense: stench! Bother them enough and they'll release a foul-smelling substance from the base of their abdomen, which in my opinion, smells like dead critter when it gets on your hands. A bold charge at a hungry predator's nose may help them get in range to drop a stink bomb!
But how do they know where to charge?
As hiding hunters, these beetles are very sensitive to vibrations, both through their antennae and their sensitive foot-hairs. Tiny changes in air pressure from a moving foe or prey creature are registered by their antennae and feet. They react quickly and pounce with startling speed. As a kid, I thought they could teleport since they could sense me before I could see them after rooting though leaves.

 

[mundanemantis]

Back when I used to visit my dad in the UK and travel around with him, I would see these fellows all over the place and called them 'Bull Bugs', since they do like to charge you like a Spanish fighting bull. I did a report about them and other local beetles back in the days in grade school, so I did share your question about their senses! Like Hakonoko mentioned, these fellows hide often and don't have good eyesight as a result, but unless you were a curious kid like me who went around flipping rocks and logs, they were shy. When threatened, these guys use their hard chitin carapaces as their defense and their jaws to scare a potential predator off. Most predators don't expect a big black pinching monster to start running at them, so they flee and abandon their hunt; the attitude of the Devil's Coach Horse being a very effective defense. That fearless charge may be the reason why they are called a 'Devil's Coach Horse' in the first place, since according to my research, coach horses that kicked and spat at strangers were better at warding away highwaymen in the days. This fellow is so well-known for their attitude, I suppose the 'devil' part made it in there too.
Secondly, their desire to approach may also play into their tertiary defense: stench! Bother them enough and they'll release a foul-smelling substance from the base of their abdomen, which in my opinion, smells like dead critter when it gets on your hands. A bold charge at a hungry predator's nose may help them get in range to drop a stink bomb!
But how do they know where to charge?
As hiding hunters, these beetles are very sensitive to vibrations, both through their antennae and their sensitive foot-hairs. Tiny changes in air pressure from a moving foe or prey creature are registered by their antennae and feet. They react quickly and pounce with startling speed. As a kid, I thought they could teleport since they could sense me before I could see them after rooting though leaves.

wow! that was an interesting read

i also took notice while observing them last night about just how hard at work those antennae are, and their vibration sensors must be VERY sensitive, as i observed they could feel an isopod making just the slightest movements a small distance from them.
i absolutely adore these beetles, and i cant wait to continue observing this one! if i have anymore questions about behaviour in them, il definitely return here since you REALLY know your stuff !

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Although they do spend a lot of time hiding, it's not uncommon for them to be out and about during the day, and they also have wings and are capable of flight. So it would make sense for them to have vision at least good enough to recognize the motion of a potential threat.