Thelyphassa lineata
Thelyphassa lineata | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | lineata
|
Binomial name | |
Thelyphassa lineata (Fabricius, 1775)
|
Thelyphassa lineata, known commonly as the striped lax beetle, is a species of false blister beetle endemic to New Zealand.[1]
Description[edit]
Adults of the species are 15 mm long. The body is a golden-brown colour with two black stripes along either side of the abdomen and a single black stripe along the pronotum.[1][2]
Behaviour & Diet[edit]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Thelyphassa_lineata_5974524.jpg/220px-Thelyphassa_lineata_5974524.jpg)
The grub of this species live in rotten forest logs. Adults are thought to feed on pollen and nectar.[1][2]
Toxicology[edit]
The striped lax beetle secretes Cantharidin, a burn agent that causes skin blisters on contact.[1] This was first observed in the late 1980s when 74 personnel from the New Zealand Army reported blistered skin after coming into contact with the species.[3]
References[edit]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thelyphassa lineata.
- ^ a b c d "T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network - Beetle (Lax) Striped (Thelyphassa lineata) ". www.terrain.net.nz. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ a b "Striped lax beetle". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ Christmas, T. I.; Nicholls, D.; Holloway, B. A.; Greig, D. (1987-08-26). "Blister beetle dermatosis in New Zealand". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 100 (830): 515–517. ISSN 0028-8446. PMID 3330591.