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Thelyphassa lineata

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Thelyphassa lineata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
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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

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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

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Thelyphassa lineata on flower

The grub of this species live in rotten forest logs. Adults are thought to feed on pollen and nectar.[1][2]

Toxicology

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "Striped lax beetle". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  3. ^ 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.