oil beetle

noun

any of several blister beetles of the genus Meloe that exude an oily fluid from the joints of their legs when disturbed.

oil beetle

any of various beetles of the family Meloidae that exude an oily evil-smelling blood from their joints, which deters enemies

First recorded in 1650–60

Part of his motivation had been provided by the oil-beetle larvae.

Some of them provide me with the oil beetle and the Sitaris, rare finds at one time, today of no use to me.

It happily consumes those provisions and, in time, an oil-beetle crawls out of the tunnel a mining-bee so laboriously prepared.

It is a protection, for it both smells and tastes so nasty that no bird will ever attempt to eat an oil-beetle.

The English, because of its trick of discharging oily blood when on the defensive, call this insect the Oil-beetle.

Browse