Blood spit or beetle?
If you think all beetles are beetles, you will discover that this is not the case. First of all, the bloodspitter and the beetle do not belong to the same family : the beetle belongs to the Scarabaeidae family, while the bloodspitter, also called timarch or black leaf beetle, belongs to the Chrysomelidae family.
Then, even if they are characterized by a rounded body, like that of a ladybug, entirely black with dark blue highlights, their resemblance does not go further. Here are the details that will allow you to clearly differentiate between the two:
- Wings : Unlike those of the beetle, the hard wings, or elytra, of the bloodspitter are welded together and create a sort of dorsal carapace which protects it from its predators and the heat. The bloodspitter therefore cannot fly, it is flightless.
- Antennas : those of the blood spit cannot be confused with those of the beetle, because they have a singular appearance: they look like small black pearls strung one after the other.
- The paws : those of the blood spitter are robust and by observing them, it is possible to notice that the terminal segment which rests on the ground, also called the tarsus, is composed of three flattened elements in the shape of a heart, the last of which bears two claws that allow it to cling to plants and climb walls.
Where and when to observe spitting blood?
Where you are most likely to come across a bloodspitter is, from March to October, on dirt roads exposed to the sun or, unfortunately for him, on the road. It is an element of ordinary biodiversity, which means that you can observe it in different kinds of environments, even those most disturbed by human activities, if the conditions necessary for its survival are met:
- Sun and heat, because it can only live in high temperatures. Therefore, if you live above 1,000 meters above sea level, the chances of seeing them are lower.
- Herbaceous areas: However, the vegetation should not be too tall, as it is avoided so as not to quickly find itself deprived of light.
- Food plants: the bloodspitter is quite strict in its food choices, since its favorite food is certain species of cleavers or milk quails, herbaceous plants of the Rubiaceae family, but it can also feed on nettles, comfrey, traveling madders.
The life cycle of the bloodspitter
Adults emerge between March and April, or even in February when temperatures are very mild. The males will then wander around looking for females with which to reproduce. Here’s how things happen after mating:
- The female lays her yellowish-white eggs in packets under the bedstraw leaves.
- Its eggs give rise to large, plump larvae of a metallic black color, which give the impression of being without legs. They do have some, but so small that they are practically invisible. To compensate and still be able to cling to the plant from which they were born, they have, at the end of their abdomen, a colored organ in the shape of a suction cup.
- They complete their larval development at the end of May where they transform into nymphs, or chrysalises, at the foot of food plants.
- Then, depending on climatic conditions, the nymphs can go into hibernation and only reappear next spring or hatch at the end of summer for a second generation of adults.
Bloodspit defense methods
Its most common predators are lizards, shrews and birds. Unfortunately, this beetle accumulates handicaps : it is black on a green background, therefore very visible, it has a very slow gait, when it falls on its back, it has difficulty getting up due to its rounded shape and it is incapable of flying, since its wings are welded. Suffice it to say that fleeing at full speed or with one’s wings is not an option for him.
But then how does he defend himself?
- When the bloodspitter feels threatened while clinging to a plant, he drops to the ground in the middle of the vegetation, to hidesomehow.
- Otherwise, he can play dead by folding its legs under its abdomen. His attacker then finds himself facing his armored carapace.
- If, despite everything, his attacker manages to catch him, he pulls out all the stops: he spits out a large drop of orange-red liquid resembling blood. You will have understood, this is what earned it its name spit-blood. This bitter-tasting liquid is extremely toxic because it contains anthraquinones which have a repellent effect.
Blood spit impacted by humans
Another predator of the blood spitter is man:
- The systematic destruction of natural spaces directly impacts these beetles.
- The use of pesticides, weedkillers, etc. contributes to their disappearance.
- Many spitters are also killed when crushed by vehicles when they begin their slow wandering on the roads.