Poison and love

1996/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

Cantharidin has long been considered an aphrodisiac, but its erections are so painful that people consider it a dangerous poison. However, for an animal species (the scarab Neophyrochora flabellata) is not poison and offers access to pleasant sexes.

When the male and female are paired, the cantharidin is supplied through the sperm and the female covers their eggs with this substance to protect them from predators. Where does the male get this substance? According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin in the United States, the fly “Errauli” also participates in this project.

This coleopter synthesizes the toxin and when the male beetle squeezes with blood secretes a few drops. The male then collects those drops of poison and seeks the female to fertilize it.