Black-blue oil beetle: Poisonous danger discovered in Baden-Württemberg!

Black-blue oil beetle: Poisonous danger discovered in Baden-Württemberg!

In recent weeks, a small beetle has been causing a stir in gardens and parks in Germany: the black-blue oil beetle. This poisonous animal, common in Baden-Württemberg, is considered one of the most dangerous beetles in Germany. The animals measure between 1 and 3 centimeters and are tough. In fact, the oil beetle is so poisonous that playgrounds are closed after sightings like this Mercury reported.

The female oil beetles are real breeding machines: they lay up to 9,500 eggs in the ground, from which the larvae hatch after the winter. These little pests find a wild bee and cling to it in order to be carried into the nest. There they feed on the bee's supplies while the larvae overwinter, like that MDR shows.

A deadly poison

The poison of the oil beetle, cantharidin, is responsible for the worries of nature lovers. It is released through the pores on the knee joints and can theoretically be fatal if ingested in large quantities. However, there are no known cases of serious poisoning in people or pets, emphasizes the German Nature Conservation Association (NABU). He calls on people not to spread panic, because the fact that the beetle is an “aggressive beast” is not true. The Erfurt poison control center can provide help and recommends rinsing the affected area thoroughly with water in the event of skin contact.

The cantharidin has a long history: it was documented in ancient Egypt and used for executions in ancient Greece. Historically it was also used to increase potency. However, upon contact, the poison can cause painful blisters on the skin and can also severely affect the eyes, resulting in painful swelling, as n-tv reports.

Threat to biodiversity

What raises alarm bells is not just the poison, but also the threat to the oil beetle itself. This species is on the red list because its habitat is threatened by the decline in wild bees and habitat-destroying measures. The beetles can be observed particularly in the months of April and May. Above all, open areas such as sparse forests and sandy meadows along the large rivers Rhine and Neckar offer them a home. The interaction between danger and biodiversity comes into play with the oil beetle.

Overall, the black-blue oil beetle is a small but impressive phenomenon of nature that should be cared for and protected despite its danger. The awareness of protecting nature and biodiversity is becoming more of a focus in our society than ever before - and perhaps the oil beetle is the beginning of thinking about the wonders and risks of the local fauna.