"soup" wrote in message
.uk...
David (in Normandy) wrote:
This sounds exactly like a black insect we have here in Normandy -
this also arched its back in a menacing way - Devil's Coachhorse.
They can also run like Linford Christie on Speed!
Try this link:
http://www.essexwt.org.uk/species/de...e%20beetle.htm

Sounds and looks exactly right ,
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/devils...tcm3-60302.jpg
so should I worry about seeing one in the house?

I don't know! This is exactly were I first saw one - running across our
living room floor! I evicted it, but didn't like the way it arched it's back
towards me. I've since seen one trotting over the patio and straight through
our open front door so quickly nabbed it before it set up home there. I've
only seen the odd one since, always outside. Seems to be a problem with
leaving the front door open in hot weather but there aren't that many around
so I'm not worried.

Personally I'm more concerned about vipers. According to the locals I should
never leave my ankle height wellies outside the front door - they like to
set up home in them apparently. Since then I always keep them in the garage,
but always carefully tip them up at arms length before putting them on!!!

(As far as I can understand what the French call vipers are the same as UK
adders - either way I don't want to share my footwear with them!)
--
David
.... Email address on website http://www.avisoft.co.uk
.... Blog at http://dlts-french-adventures.blogspot.com/