#oil beetle

[onenicebugperday]

@interplanetarycondiment submitted: Found this dude in [removed] (please remove). Any idea what they are?

Yeah! An oil beetle in the genus Meloe. They are a type of blister beetle, so no touchy.

#animals #insects #bugs #submission #beetle #blister beetle #oil beetle #meloe

[emberisshidding]

oil beetle eating a blade of grass (gone sexual)

#entomology #beetles #oil beetle #bug sex

[kagender]

2 oil beetles i found!

#bugs #bugblr #oil beetle #cant pinpoint exact species i am not very good at that - probably meloe proscarabaeus? 2 different sexes #number 1 would be a girl and number 2 would be a boy ^_^ hope they find eachother

[vintagewildlife]

Oil beetle By: Richard L. Cassell From: The Illustrated Library of the Natural Sciences 1958

#oil beetle #beetle #insect #arthropod #invertebrate #1958 #1950s #Richard L. Cassell #The Illustrated Library of the Natural Sciences

[dansnaturepictures]

1st May 2023-Bentley Wood 

Pictures taken today in this set are of: 1. Primroses. 2. Spurge. 3. Charming wood anemone. 4 and 5. Stunning scenes of vibrant swathes of bluebells on the forest floor as we have seen before at this another of our key butterfly sites visited for the first time in 2023 today. 6. A beautiful Green Tiger beetle, it’s the fourth year running we’ve seen one now and third consecutive year at Bentley Wood I always feel so fortunate to see this wondrous and exotic looking insect hop across paths. An epic and immersive moment. 7. Some lovely eyelash fungus which I wasn’t expecting to see today and never had here before, one of a few great little things of nature I enjoyed today. 8. A crane fly I believe a cone horn cranefly I was amazed to see on the path towards the end of the walk, I found it so colourful and fascinating. As I’ve got more interested in insects beyond butterflies, moths, dragon/damselflies the past few years I’ve noticed just how rich in insect life Bentley Wood is which is so good. 9 and 10. Great green views in fine sunshine. 

Oil beetle and snipe fly as I had seen here before were also good to see on the walk, as were a spider, bee flies, tadpoles and pond skater on the pond, pretty bugle, ground ivy, tormentil, greater stitchwort, garlic mustard and cuckooflower. It was a delight to hear a Cuckoo’s enchanting call reverberating through the woods I have had an amazing bank holiday weekend for these birds I love. Hearing the wholesome drumming of another of my favourites Great Spotted Woodpecker and Pheasant as well as seeing Blue Tit and Brimstone stood out too. 

#tormentil #crane fly #greater stitchwort #wood anemone #photography #birdwatching #flowers #spider #insects #eyelash fungi #green tiger beetle #oil beetle #happy #walk #walking #green #bluebells #blue tit #cuckoo #great spotted woodpecker #birds #woods #earth #nature #natural world #europe #wiltshire #hampshire #outdoors #bank holiday weekend

[mossfroot]

Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus

#cottagecore #dirtcore #goblincore #nature #nature photography #biology #ecology #wildlife #wildlife photography #macro photography #oil beetle #oil beetles #beetles #coleoptera

[muddypyro]

it was just so nice out that I had to run away from the mayhem of life to go hiking again. found this dapper gent (assuming 'gent' by their antenna kinks) scurrying quickly along the path, yet still had time to strike a pose for the camera ✨

#oil beetle #bug #iridescent #hiking #inaturalist

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Oil Beetle - Meloe campanicollis

On Sunday, it was this blog’s 4 Year Anniversary. This may sound familiar since it was only a few months ago that I gave my thanks for reaching 600 posts, but I do mean every single word of my thanks. There’s been a large increase of new followers the last few months, so to all my followers and everyone else who comes to give my blog a look, thank you! And of course, all the thanks in the world to my friends and family for helping me fine tune the blog and for all the contributions given to my insect passion project. Here’s to many more years and many more bug posts on the horizon. I hope you’ll all continue to enjoy this content and suggest improvements for a successful 5 years! Again, my sincerest thanks! On this special day, we’re in for something amazing! I hinted at it in an earlier post but I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see for myself in person as it takes a bit of agitation and it can be risky if mishandled. A few weeks ago, I found it! This Blister Beetle is alive and well, don’t worry. The orientation she’s in is meant for defense, tucking the legs up towards to the body to deter her attackers by scorching them with the toxic chemical cantharidin! I cannot overemphasize enough: handle all Blister Beetles with care! And don’t let your pets near them either. If threatened, the viscous, toxic chemical cantharidin that Blister Beetles exude from their joints can blister the skin on contact!! 

Of course, there are measures you can take to keep safe: if you can avoid handling the insect directly, you should be fine. While the body itself doesn’t exude toxins, holding the body may cause direct contact with the legs. Handling tools are a must! All that said, this toxic chemical doesn’t affect everything: in the insect world, Fire-Colored Beetles actually collect cantharidin to protect their own eggs! It’s still wonderous to me though, such a powerful chemical in such a small body. For anyone who’s played Hollow Knight, it looks like this Beetle is succumbing to the infection within Hallownest, but she (look at the antennae) is alive and well. I found her arched on the sidewalk and I decided to get her across the sidewalk in the direction she was facing using a stick. It’s now clear to me that the arching was meant as a warning display and the cantharidin was secreted in an instant (no blisters on me, don’t worry)! Picture 10 shows just how much the Oil Beetle can use to defend itself from threats since it can’t fly and is a slow mover. I switched to a leaf and scooted her across the sidewalk to the dirt path near the fence where hopefully no one would step on her. Though the chemical defense is burning for us should we mishandle this insect, if used carefully and respectfully cantharidin can have beneficial purposes. Cantharidin has potential in the medical research field since it can be combined with other chemicals and dosed appropriately to form wart compound treatments. Marvelous, isn’t it? Just scorch the wart away! 

Pictures were taken on October 15, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.

#jonny’s insect catalogue #ontario insect #beetle #oil beetle #blister beetle #coleoptera #insect #toronto #october2022 #2022 #blog anniversary #milestone #4 year anniversary #happy 4 years #happy four years #entomology #nature #invertebrates

[but-i-hear-you-anyway]

#mine #gardening endeavors #oil beetle

[cosmos-kitty]

An opal beetle! 🌈

#art #artists on tumblr #illustration #artist #beetles #oil pastel #gouache

[synalpheus]

Happy Valentine’s Day! Have some animals having sex (or being close to it) from last year. As an aromantic asexual I sure end up running into a lot of those lol.

The top row shows a collection of smaller males of different types of animals holding on to their (much bigger) females in an attempt to make sure that no other males will come and have sex with her. In particular, we have European orchard bees (Osmia cornuta), common toads (Bufo bufo), and oil beetles (Meloe proscarabaeus). The remaining three pictures are, uh, actual sex photos. Featuring: ruby tiger moths (Phragmatobia fuliginosa), striped bugs (Graphosoma italicum), and Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca).

#synsphotos #synsbirding #syns arthropod adventures #insects #insect #bee #bees #Osmia #toad #toads #common toad #amphibians #beetle #beetles #oil beetle #Meloidae #moths #moth #lepidoptera #tiger moth #phragmatobia #bug #true bug #Graphosoma #bird #birds #egyptian goose #wildlife photography #wildlife #birding

[onenicebugperday]

@postalpacalypticllamas submitted: Hi! I'd like some help IDing a few bugs from the [removed]. (If the location could be removed, that would be great)

These guys were on a trail near my apartment. I'm not sure if it was a nest or if they were just out enjoying the August heat.

The greenish beetle(?) kept walking into shadows so I couldn't get a picture right in the sun, but it was very pretty!

And I saved this snail from the pavement on an abnormally hot October day right after taking a picture! Thank you!

Hello! And sure! The plentiful fellas in the video are boxelder adults and nymphs - the nymphs are more red than the adults which are primarily black. It's common to find them in large groups, though it's not a nest. They like to gather in warm areas, so it's possible the rock was toasty.

The beetle is an oil beetle in the genus Meloe - their iridescence is beautiful! Like other blister beetles in the family Meloidae, they can excrete a defensive liquid that can cause irritation and even blistering, hence the name.

The snail I'm not super sure on but maybe a striped whitelip. Either way, REALLY excellent eye stalks.

#animals #insects #bugs #submission #video #true bugs #congregation #boxelder bug #eastern boxelder bug #beetle #blister beetle #oil beetle #Meloe #gastropods #snail #striped whitelip

[emberisshidding]

I went out looking for silk moth cocoons today but I didn't find any (wah wahh)

I did however find this beauty!!!

I was debating whether to pick it up and I am glad I did not

#oil beetle #entomology #beetle #if anyone can help narrow it down to species i would be very appreciative

[oorionjeann]

"chase the moon", oil pastel on wood panel, 2023.

#art #traditional art #original art #oil pastel #illustration #animal art #insect art #rhinoceros beetle #rhino beetle #art prints #my art

[samimarkart]

art I have up for grabs! All pieces are the originals in acrylic and oil paint (and the last one is an entirely sewn by hand quilt made of cotton with polyester batting) please message me if you are interested in any of the pieces here and I can get them shipped out to you! all come with hanging mechanisms. I am currently navigating self employment with my student loans starting next month and would appreciate any support! share with your buggy friends

#my art #painting #art #fiber art #queer artist #acrylic painting #quilt #insect #bugs #quilting #oil painting #trans artist #grasshopper #jewel beetle #stick insect #jungle nymph #vending

[dansnaturepictures]

My Great British Wild Year: Part 3 of 5-Dragonflies, damselflies and other wildlife

I had a dazzling year of dragonflies, from perfect moments by a stream at Nant-y-Pandy (The Dingle) on Anglesey seeing a colossal Golden-ringed Dragonfly to Keeled Skimmers in Pig Bush, New Forest’s boggy areas I had so many wonderful moments. Four-spotted Chaser was a star of my year with enchanting times seeing them at RSPB Valley Wetlands and Cors Dddyga as well as Hickling Broad, with brilliant Broad-bodied Chaser a key species enjoyed too. Emperors in all their masterful glory including one seen egg laying, eye catching and bold Southern Hawkers and marvellous manoeuvring Migrant Hawkers were ones I enjoyed fine views of locally and further afield so many times through the year. Hawkers dominated my year with gripping moments seeing distinctive Brown Hawker and also a fantastically fresh new species for us the Norfolk Hawker a key moment in my year on July trips to Norfolk and Rutland. Black-tailed Skimmer was a shining constant on my Lakeside walks in summer weeks, passing on the baton to scintillating Common Darter as well as Migrant Hawker as the season and year went on, the Common Darter another I had a great year for also seeing some mating. Delicate Ruddy Darter and Hairy Dragonfly were good to see too. A pivotal moment in my dragonfly year and an enchanting spectacle came at Thursley Common in late September when I was amazed to see so many slick, dainty and fabulous Black Darters.

Norfolk Hawker at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen

Black-tailed Skimmer at Lakeside in June

A Common Darter that was magical to see at Lakeside in August

It was an Azure Damselfly year for sure with especially at Lakeside Country Park and also at RSPB Cors Ddyga these splendid damselflies seen well. Especially at Lakeside Blue-tailed Damselflies were a strong theme of my year seeing so many, with strong showings from Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle this year. Pinnacles of my dreamy damselfly year perhaps were at at Hickling Broad when we saw a precious Emerald Damselfly, seeing them again twice in the September week off at RSPB Minsmere and Thursley.

A Blue-tailed Damselfly I enjoyed seeing at Cors Ddyga too.

I enjoyed immersing myself in other parts of nature I am less familiar with again this year especially other insects with some epic things seen both new and that I had before. Beetles playing a big part in this with tremendous views of Green Tiger beetle at Bentley Wood again, a striking Rose Chafer beetle seen at South Stack, Chrysomela populi at Newborough, Cardinal beetle, Swollen-thighed Beetle, Oedemera lurida, Black-and-yellow Longhorn beetle at Lakeside, oil beetles, bold Bloody-nosed beetle, Black Clock beetle and Violet Ground beetle on the Norfolk and Rutland July weekends respectively, many splendid Common Red Soldier beetles in the summer and Black-spotted Longhorn beetle at Bentley Wood. I did well for caterpillars this year too with Oak Eggar, Fox moth, Yellow-tail moth, Peacock butterfly and Garden Tiger moth ones standouts. Common Field Grasshopper, Roesel’s Bush-cricket, Long-winged Conehead and giant Great Green Bush-cricket a sensation to see on an insect fest at Durlston made it a strong cricket/grasshopper year for me. As well as a fair few Hornets themselves I had a really good year for seeing Hornet Mimic Hoverflies in the summer again and my first ever Lesser Hornet Hoverflies, truly appealing insects. I had great moments seeing Long and Marmalade Hoverfly this year too. One of my greatest wild moments of the year came in early August when I was euphoric to fulfill a goal of a seeing a Wasp Spider in the grass of Lakeside Country Park. An outstanding arachnid, and another was a treat to see a few times this year beautiful Nursery Web spider in a strong year of spiders I had with Long-bodied Cellar spider another key species especially in autumn. I got excellent views of Common Lizard and Slow Worm in 2023.

An eyecatching Chrysomela populi

Grammoptera ruficornis and Black spotted Longhorn beetle at Bentley Wood

Hornet mimic hoverfly on hemp agrimony at Winnall Moors

#wildlife #photography #2023 #highlights #happy #hornet mimic hoverfly #black darter #common darter #ruddy darter #brown hawker #emperor #norfolk hawker #migrant hawker #southern hawker #green tiger beetle #oil beetle #blue-tailed damselfly #emerald damselfly #macro #photos #europe #england #wales #uk #britain #earth #nature #peacok butterfly caterpillar #black clock beetle #hornet