"Fairy" Beetles
Janice Rider
©
Copyright 2022 by Janice Rider
|
Photo courtesy of Pixabay. |
My
background is in zoology, conservation, and education. As a result, I
have spent a lot of time working with and being with animals. I have
worked at veterinary clinics and at the Calgary Zoo during spring and
summer breaks while attending university. One summer, I studied the
conservation and breeding of endangered species at the Jersey
Wildlife Preservation Trust. I traveled to Kenya, Tanzania, and Zaire
(now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to view wildlife in
Africa. While in Hawaii, I spent time underwater, in a cage, watching
Galapagos sharks vie for chum. On the West Coast of British Columbia,
I observed grizzlies and black bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. On
hiking and backpacking trips, I have seen a Pacific rattlesnake, a
bull snake, and many varieties of garter snakes in the provinces of
British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. There were times when I
was thrilled by the sight of bats in the mountains or on the
prairies. Whenever I see wildlife, I feel more alive and vibrant. Out
of a multitude of animal encounters, however, one stands out. This
was an encounter with some tiny animals - Nuttall’s blister
beetles.
What?!
Beetles! Yes, I shall describe an encounter with beetles. About
twenty-five percent of all species ever described are beetles. There
may be twelve million different beetle species on Earth, maybe many
more millions than this number. It’s hard to say. Many have not
yet been identified! The British scientist, John Burdon Sanderson
Haldane, once said, “If one could conclude as to the nature of
the Creator from a study of creation, it would appear that God has an
inordinate fondness for stars and beetles.” Well, I have an
inordinate fondness for beetles, too.
Near
my home in Calgary, which is next door to the Rocky Mountains, there
is a large municipal park called Nose Hill. It is eleven square
kilometers in size and is a fascinating place to walk, hike, jog, and
bike. Deer, porcupines, pocket gophers, coyotes, birds of all sorts,
and an array of plants populate the hill. Of course, insects are
there, too, including beetles. Often, I take our border collie mix,
Ember, up onto the hill, and we have many adventures.
One
day in late spring, as I was savoring the sight of purple-blue
lupines spread out in profusion before and behind me against a
background of fescue grass, I saw a large beetle take to the air. I
came to an immediate halt to take in the fanfare of colors the beetle
displayed as it flew. The elytra or wing covers of the beetle flashed
a rich burgundy and its long tapered abdomen was electric green. The
beetle came to rest on a lupine and then, to my astonishment, I
noticed many beetles amongst the lupines. They were like jewels that
had been dropped down into this prairie setting to seed it with
color.. Kneeling close to one beetle, I saw a myriad of fluorescent
hues - purples, turquoises, yellows, reds, and greens. The color
palate shifted depending on the angle of the sun and the angle from
which the insect was being viewed. Splendid! The beetle was feeding
on the petals of a lupine. Flower petals seemed the perfect meal for
such a striking insect. As I glanced around at other beetles, I
noticed that many of them were paired up and joined at the ends of
their abdomens. These insects were eating and breeding, intent on
using their short lifespans productively! Whenever one of the beetles
took to the air, it resembled a fairy. This illusion was created as a
result of the elongated abdomen which hung down during flight, giving
the abdomen the appearance of a beautiful gown that tapered at the
ankles. The burgundy wing covers were held out to the sides while the
beetles flew, adding to the illusion that I was seeing fairies
flitting about me in the air.
I
held one of my hands out in front of a beetle as it meandered over
blossoms. It clambered onto one of my fingers, its delicate, hinged
legs moving steadily. I noticed that it had lengthy antennae made up
of tiny bead-like parts. It moved over my hand and then, deciding I
had nothing to offer, took off, up and into the air. My spirits rose
with its flight.
I
felt privileged to see these “fairy” beetles and wondered
what kind of beetles they really were - a type of metallic beetle or
some sort of an iridescent beetle? I felt like I was crouched down in
a magical kingdom. A wet nose on my cheek was a reminder that my dog,
at least, still inhabited the real world and was becoming impatient
with my dawdling.
When
I arrived home, I decided to contact someone I’d met at a talk
regarding citizen science initiatives for amphibians. She happened to
have an entomology background. I was told that my “fairies”
were Nuttall’s blister beetles. There are over two thousand
different Nuttall’s beetle species. Their astounding colors are
a warning to potential predators, like birds, that they are toxic.
Their haemolymph, or insect blood, contains cantharidin and, when
Nuttall’s blister beetles are threatened, this haemolymph is
released through the joints of their legs. On human skin, this
haemolymph creates blisters which can last for weeks! This bit of
news made me glad that I wasn’t considered enough of a threat
to “bleed” on. Adult beetles eat legumes like lupines as
well as their flowers. They are a gregarious species, commonly
feeding in groups. The larvae of the beetles have a fondness for
grasshopper eggs which is why you find larger numbers of Nuttall”s
beetles during and following great grasshopper seasons.
How
had I not noticed these beetles before? Was it the fact that I hit
the right time of year and the right place on this occasion? Was it
the fact that I first saw these beetles during a year that was also
good for grasshoppers? Well, my newfound knowledge meant that I now
knew where and when to look for these beetles. Since my first
introduction to them, I have had the opportunity to watch them on
many occasions. Always, they bring me great delight. They are my
“fairy” beetles - elegant, mesmerizing creatures that
remind me of the ephemeral nature of life and its seductive beauty.
Janice
Rider has always loved the natural world and resides in Calgary close
to the Rocky Mountains. She has a BSc in Zoology with a minor in
English Literature and a BEd degree with a science teaching
specialty. Janice directs The Chameleon Drama Club for children and
youth. Three of her plays for youth have been published through
Eldridge Plays and Musicals. As well, a nonfiction piece of hers on
snakes was accepted for publication in 2020 by Honeyguide Literary
Magazine.
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