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Physomeloe corallifer
This beetle is characterized by its short elytra that barely covered a third of the abdomen, and the four red spots that adorn their cervical shield (pronotum). Females are larger than males, reaching the 3 cm in length, and have more bulky abdomen. When they are disturbed, they secrete an oil substance of greenish color, by the end of their abdomen, which contains "cantharidin", causing a big skin irritation with formation of painful vesicles which may persist weeks, and conjunctivitis caused if bringing the hands to the eyes. The females lay eggs buried in the vicinity of a plant. After hatching, the larvae climb to the plant and await the arrival of an insect - preferably a bee - and cling to him to be transported to the nests, where it will feed of eggs and other stored products. It is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula. It is fairly abundant in the centre of Portugal and the Spanish plateau, and rare in the rest.
Spotted in a pine tree forest in mountain terrain. Parque Natural de Sierra de Gredos
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/640 sec.; f/14; ISO Speed Rating: 400. Exposure Bias: -1 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash fired
Spotted on May 17, 2015
Submitted on Jun 18, 2015
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