Autohaemorrhaging
Autohaemorrhaging or reflex bleeding is the action of insects deliberately ejecting haemolymph from themselves. If the insect has toxic compounds in their blood then it may be an effective chemical defense. Insects that autohaemorrhage include:[1]
Beetles
- Blister beetles
- Meloidae whose haemolymph contains cantharidin that they sequester from plants that they feed on.
- Timarcha species
- Chrysomelidae whose haemolymph contains anthraquinones.
- Ladybugs[2]
Flies
- Bushhoppers such as Dictyophora spumans and Phymateus leprosus whose haemolymph contains cardiac glycosides sequestered from milkweed on which they feed.
- Katydids including Eugaster species
- Armoured ground crickets
- Enyaliopsis nyala
See also
References
- ^ Bateman, Philip (28 Apr 2009). "There will be blood: autohaemorrhage behaviour as part of the defence repertoire of an insect". Journal of Zoology. 278 (4): 342–348. ISSN 1469-7998. Retrieved 07-08-2009.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ The Alkaloids: chemistry and physiology, Volume 31 By Arnold Brossi