Appearance
The ''bloody-nosed beetle'' is a large harmless and flightless chrysomelid. Average specimens are quite squat being about 2 cm long, and about half that wide. The body is strongly curved and elytra unusually smooth. The color is slightly metallic black or bluish or purplish. Antennas are thick and well segmented. Legs have long tarsi and terminate with a double hook.These beetles usually move slowly on the ground, in the grass and herbaceous plants, mainly of night. As defensive behaviour they exude a bright red-orange fluid from their mouth , foul-tasting to predators. This fluid is hemolymph. This phenomenon of "bleeding" exists in other wingless insects.
''Timarcha tenebricosa'' is monophagous, the larva feed exclusively on bedstraws, especially species with tender leaves . Eggs are laid in spring on bedstraws. Larvae are quite large blue-black in color. Pupa overwinter.
Distribution
The beetle can be found in southern and central Europe, and is common in Britain and Ireland.
Habitat
This species grassy areas, forest edges and forest clearings.References:
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