Toxin-mediated-defense

Guides

• Paederus

  Whiplash Beetles

  Paederus is a large genus of rove beetles comprising over 600 species. Members are distinguished from most other rove beetles by bright aposematic coloration, diurnal activity, and attraction to lights. Several species contain pederin, a potent vesicant toxin produced by endosymbiotic bacteria, which causes paederus dermatitis when beetle hemolymph contacts human skin. Both larvae and adults are predatory on other insects.

  predatorydiurnalaposematic-colorationmedically-significanttoxin-mediated-defensebiological-control-potential