CMR Beetle

The CMR Blister Beetle (Hycleus oculatus) is a large (4cm long) and colourfully-marked beetle in the family Meloidae, notorious for excreting the toxin cantharidin in defence against predators – this can cause blisters when making contact with skin and can even be fatal if ingested, both to humans and livestock. It's name comes from the yellow and black stripes, suggestive of the colours of the 19th Century regiment, Cape Mounted Rifles

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