EntdeckenInsekten

Violet Oil Beetle

Meloe violaceus

The Violet Oil Beetle is a shiny, purple insect that loves to crawl around in the grass. It has a special oil that can make it smell bad to keep away predators!

Lebensraum: Grasslands

Aussehen

The Violet Oil Beetle has a distinctively large, soft, and plump abdomen with a stunning iridescent metallic violet or dark blue sheen. Its short, overlapping wing covers (elytra) do not fully conceal the abdomen, and it lacks functional hind wings, making it unable to fly.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungColeopteraFamilieMeloidaeGattungMeloe
Violet Oil Beetle
solitary trait badgecolorful trait badgegrassland trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Violet Oil Beetle

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Female oil beetles can lay thousands of tiny eggs in a single clutch!

Its body produces a potent toxin called cantharidin, which is extremely dangerous!

The larvae are tricksters, mimicking bees to lure males for a ride!

These beetles are entirely flightless, relying on their legs to walk everywhere!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Fähigkeit

Toxic Oil Defense

Violet Oil Beetle can release a toxic, oily liquid from its leg joints because it contains cantharidin, which helps deter predators.

Fähigkeit

Bee Hitchhiker Larvae

Violet Oil Beetle larvae can hitch a ride on bees because they are specially adapted to cling on, helping them find a bee nest for food.

Maße und Details

Größe
10-30 mm
Lebenserwartung
30-60 Tage
Anzahl der Beine
6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Adults nibble on plants, while their clever larvae sneak into bee nests to eat.

Altersunterschiede: Larvae called 'triungulins' attach to bees, feeding on their eggs, larvae, and stored pollen in the bee nest. Adults eat plant matter.

Hauptnahrung

  • Buttercup leaves
  • Dandelion leaves
  • Nectar
  • Pollen

Nahrungssuche

  • Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

Merkmale

Auch bekannt als

Noch keine Alternativnamen vorhanden.

Sammlungen

Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

It's best to look at beetles from a distance and not touch them, as some can be smelly!

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Was ist der/die/das größe von Violet Oil Beetle?

10-30 mm

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Violet Oil Beetle?

30-60 Tage

Was frisst Violet Oil Beetle?

Adults nibble on plants, while their clever larvae sneak into bee nests to eat.

Wo findet man Violet Oil Beetle normalerweise?

Grasslands

Wie jagt Violet Oil Beetle?

Foraging

Was ist der/die/das anzahl der Beine von Violet Oil Beetle?

6

Snap-Karte

Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.

Karte wird geladen…

Neueste Snaps

Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.

Mehr Insekten