Poisonous oil beetles are on the move in parts of Germany. The poison of the black-blue beetle can be fatal. Experts urge caution.
Munich – Temperatures in Germany are gradually rising. Many insects crawl out of their hiding places – including animals such as the oil beetle. While most insects are rather harmless, the black-blue shiny beetle is poisonous. After the tiger mosquito, "the most dangerous animal in the world", the praying mantis caused a stir in Hesse in August last year.
As the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) warns, the poison of the oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) is highly toxic even in low concentrations. Only a few milligrams of the poison (cantharidin) can be lethal to an adult, says Lilith Stelzner, nature conservation officer at the state association of the BUND. "However, if you behave correctly, nothing will happen." To do this, people need to know how to recognize the oil beetle.
Don't touch: Poisonous oil beetles are on the move © in Germany Kiefer/Imago
Oil beetles in Germany: size, occurrence, poison – what you need to know about the beetle
According to reports, the poisonous oil beetles are spreading mainly in southwestern Germany. According to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu), there are about 15 species of oil beetles there. Many of them along the major rivers such as the Rhine, Neckar and Danube. As the Tagesschau reports, a schoolyard, a playground and the outdoor area of a kindergarten have already been closed in North Rhine-Westphalia because of the black-blue beetle.
The native oil beetles, also known as May worms, pavement beetles and lard beetles, are particularly noticeable in the months of April and May. But they are not aggressive. What else you should know about the oil beetle:
- Central Europe is home to 20 species of the oil beetle family. In Germany, according to the experts, the purple oil beetle and the black-blue oil beetle are most frequently sighted.
- The beetles are about one to three centimeters long and, despite their length, have a stocky physique.
- They feed on wild garlic, fenugreek, wood anemone and other flowering plants and are therefore often found along roadsides, in gardens and sparse forests.
- All oil beetles possess cantharidin, a highly effective poison for warm-blooded animals. In case of danger, the oily droplets come out of the pores of the knee joints.
- A single female can lay 3,000 to 9,500 eggs in suitable soil five to six times at intervals of one to two weeks. However, the beetles can only reproduce if they meet sand bees. Already at this stage, many larvae die. This is because the larvae only develop when they get into the nests of the right host bee species.
- Source: Nabu DE→EN
Oil beetle in Germany: Beetle is poisonous and is considered highly endangered
Oil beetles need about two years to develop, of which they live only a single month as beetles. However, as mentioned above, which animal becomes a beetle is a matter of luck. Experts estimate that only every thousandth larva turns into an oil beetle. Therefore, the beetles are relatively rare and strictly protected. In Germany, they are on the Red List of Endangered Species.
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Oil beetles are quite fascinating because of their color, but should not be touched. Skin contact is not dangerous, but unpleasant. The consequences are usually redness and blisters. In such a case, the poison control center advises washing your hands thoroughly with soap and cooling the affected areas. It can be really dangerous if you swallow the oil beetle - then the poison control center should be contacted promptly. According to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Association, no dangerous poisoning of humans or pets is known so far. Physical contact with oil beetles should generally be avoided.
Biodiversity is essential for human survival. Biologists found a surprising biodiversity in Schönwald. A total of 172 arthropod species were recorded there within eight weeks two years ago. However, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), one million of the estimated eight million animal and plant species on Earth are threatened with extinction. (VW)
