Since oil beetles' secret weapon can be poisonous, it's important to protect yourself, pets and garden plants during the spring season. The so-called May worm can cause blisters when it comes into contact with the skin or can even be fatal if swallowed. These insects appear quite charismatic when encountered and can easily be touched, but this would have serious consequences. For this reason, it is advisable to learn more about the possible risks as well as possible control strategies. Here is some useful information and tips that can help you access outdoor spaces more safely this spring.
What makes the oil beetle poisonous and so dangerous to people and animals?
A member of the blister beetle family, this species of beetle secretes a corrosive chemical called cantharidin from its abdomen. The poison remains even on dead insects and can last for a long time. This applies to farm animals such as horses, as well as pets such as dogs andCats in the gardenpose a major danger when eaten. The toxicity is high enough to irritate human skin, which can cause redness, irritation and painful blisters. The May Worm usually uses its poisonous weapon when it feels threatened or is being crushed. For this reason, you should never touch or ingest oil beetles, as this can also lead to kidney failure and serious gastrointestinal problems.
From this background, it is essential to correctly identify these insects and take possible countermeasures to prevent health risks. Although the toxic substance is used to treat lesions in the smallpox virus andused for wart removalyou should protect yourself from it. It is even more important to protect small children from this, as they often tend to swallow something dangerous. Not only are oil beetles poisonous, but they also endanger both garden and crop plants. The insects eat their way through a variety of plant leaves and flowers, as well as flowers and hay crops.
How can you recognize a May worm and its larvae?
Correct identification of oil beetles is important because they are similar to other non-poisonous beetle species, such as the asparagus beetle. This species of beetle reaches a length of 1 to 2.5 centimeters, has an exposed abdomen and is usually colored black or purple. The insects' elytra are shorter and may have dimples. They also have large, rectangular heads and long, thread-like antennae decorated with pearls.
The female insects also have a larger abdomen when they are pregnant. Adults begin laying eggs in mid to late spring and continue for most of the season. A female lays one or two hundred eggs, less than a millimeter wide and one to two millimeters long, just below the soil surface. The eggs hatch in two weeks or less.
As for the larvae, they have long legs, which they use to search for the eggs of insects such as grasshoppers. Otherwise, oil beetle larvae can also adhere to bees when the beneficial insects pollinate plants, which is why they are also known as bee lice. When the pupal stage is completed, the newly hatched adult falls to the ground after almost ten days and begins to feed on cultivated plants. Adults visit flowers to consume nectar, pollen, and occasionally even the entire flower. Some species of blister beetles even eat leaves. Larvae that reach the pupal stage in autumn can overwinter directly underground. Fortunately, there are some control methods and home remedies that can be used effectively.
Use natural remedies and take action when oil beetles become poisonous
To prevent highly toxic hazards and damage caused by an insect infestation or larvae, you can use some natural control products in the garden. First and foremost, it is crucial to regularly inspect the garden area for such insects and their larvae. Their numbers gradually increase during the first few months of the growing season, and an attentive gardener can prevent them from causing much damage. Oil beetles can gather in groups on potato and lettuce plants in garden beds. Therefore, once you discover them, remove as many beetles and the plants they have damaged as possible. Once the insects are well established, it can be almost impossible to completely eradicate them, even if you use chemical or other toxic insecticides.
You can also pick the insects by hand or with suitable garden tools, although you should definitely wear gardening gloves. However, this method would be more effective in small numbers. Brush the beetles from your garden plants in a small container with a little soapy water. After you shake the Mayworms from the plants, they often play dead on the ground instead of scurrying away. In such cases, you can take advantage and collect the insects carefully. Otherwise, the following countermeasures can prevent an insect infestation.
Use of diatomaceous earth and other remedies against Mayworms
- You can keep the range and number of oil beetles low by spreading diatomaceous earth around threatened plants. This valuable powder can also be used as a barrier in raised beds or other small garden areas.
- Mow your lawn regularly and remove weeds from the edges of your garden, as these areas are affected first.
- Use covers on your garden beds to keep oil beetles away from plants during their peak season.
- Attract birds to your garden to use them as a natural weapon against insects, but avoid using chemical agents.
- As already described, grasshoppers attract Mayworm larvae, which is why you should get rid of such insects in your garden.
- You can also use neem oil as an effective home remedy if oil beetles appear to be poisonous. To do this, mix two teaspoons of the oil in about 4 liters of water with a little liquid soap and use the solution in a spray bottle to spray the insects directly with it.
