71.Blister beetle

Blister Beetle (Mylabris pustulata)


Blister beetles are beetles, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. (I had no idea about it when I took it.. ;)..)
Many are conspicuous and some aposematically colored, announcing their toxicity to would-be predators.

Cantharidin is a poisonous chemical causing blistering of the skin. Cantharidin is used medically to remove warts and is collected for this purpose from species of the genera Mylabris and Lytta.

The 1st one was taken with a closeup macro lens @80mm, no cropping.
The second one @300mm without a closeup macro lens at a different site.


I thought to take a break from birds for a few days. :)