onenicebugperday: Dogbane leaf beetle, Chrysochus auratus, ChrysomelidaeFound in eastern North
onenicebugperday: Dogbane leaf beetle, Chrysochus auratus, ChrysomelidaeFound in eastern North America, dogbane beetles feed on plants in the Apocynum genus. Plants in this genus contain toxins (cardenolides) that, when ingested, are fatal to many organisms, including humans, causing cardiac arrest. However, the Dogbane beetle is able to consume the plant and compartmentalize the cardenolides into glands. If threatened, the beetle can secrete the cardenolides as a defense mechanism.Photo 1 by nickhobgood, 2 by davewendelken, 3 by judygva, 4 by briangratwicke, 5 by nlblock, 6 by dalien, 7-8 by christinetucc, and 9-10 by akilee -- source link