Meloe
Genus of beetles / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For the ancient cities, see Meloë.
For Blister beetles, see Blister beetle.
Meloe is a genus of blister beetles commonly referred to as oil beetles.[1] The name derives from their defensive strategy: when threatened by collectors or predators they release oily droplets of hemolymph from their joints (legs, neck, and antennae). This fluid is bright orange and contains cantharidin, a poisonous chemical compound. Wiping the chemical on skin can cause blistering and painful swelling of the skin. This defensive strategy is not exclusive to this genus; all meloids possess and exude cantharidin upon threat.
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Quick Facts Meloe, Scientific classification ...
Meloe | |
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Meloe violaceus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
Family: | Meloidae |
Subfamily: | Meloinae |
Tribe: | Meloini |
Genus: | Meloe Linnaeus, 1758 |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
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