Black snail beetle

A black snail beetle on a rotten log

Black snail beetle © Brian Eversham

A black snail beetle crossing a path

Black snail beetle © Tom Hibbert

A black snail beetle pushing its head inside the shell of a snail to feed on the unfortunate mollusc

Black snail beetle feeding © John Bridges

Black snail beetle

Scientific name: Phosphuga atrata
This shiny beetle is common in wooded areas throughout the UK. As the name suggests, it specialises in hunting snails.

Species information

Statistics

Length: 1.0-1.5cm

Conservation status

Common

When to see

All year

About

The black snail beetle, also known as the black carrion beetle, is one of our most common carrion beetles. It can be found right across the UK, from the southern tip of Cornwall to the Scottish islands. Black snail beetles live in a wide variety of habitats, from coastal dunes to peat bogs, but especially wooded areas. You can also find them in gardens. The adult beetles live for several years, spending the winter under bark, logs or other woody debris, or in plant litter or similarly sheltered spots. When they're resting they often tuck their head under their body. If they're disturbed, they can secrete a nasty smelling yellow liquid as a form of defence.

Black snail beetles become more active in spring. They are nocturnal and tend to hide away during the day, in similar spots to where they spend the winter. They can't fly, but are often found wandering along paths or over logs.

As its common name suggests, this beetle is a specialist at hunting snails. It bites the snail and secretes a substance from its mouth that dissolves the snail's tissue, as well as the defensive mucus that snails use to protect themselves. The beetle then feeds on the liquefied snail. As it feeds, it gradually pushes its head deeper into the shell to reach more of the snail. In some cases they can almost completely disappear inside the shell.

How to identify

A moderately sized, shiny beetle with a rounded pronotum (the section behind the head) and broadly spaced ridges along the elytra (the wing cases that cover the bulk of the body). It has a distinctively elongated head with obvious mandibles. Often black, but the colour can vary to red or bronze.

Distribution

Widespread in the UK and the Isle of Man

Did you know?

The black snail hunter's gruesome meals can take a while to eat. One study recorded beetles feeding for more than 12 hours per snail.