← Back to Directory
πŸͺ² Beetles

Oil Beetle

Meloe proscarabaeus

Near Threatened

About

A large, flightless beetle with shortened elytra and a swollen abdomen. It secretes an oily, blistering compound called cantharidin when threatened.

πŸ’‘

Did You Know?

Females can lay over 1,000 eggs, but larvae must hitch a ride on a solitary bee to survive.