Roaming through the autumn leaves, an Oil Beetle (Meloe). If you see one, don’t pick it up. They have a defensive tactic to discourage predators. When provoked a bright orange, oily, poisonous chemical, called cantharidin will be released. This chemical on human skin will create very painful blisters.

A good sized beetle judging by the leaves that it is rambling across. Oil Beetles can grow to be 1.25 inches long.

Look but don’t touch.

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