Diamphidia

Diamphidia
Diamphidia nigroornata (Bushman arrow-poison beetle)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Suborder:
Polyphaga
Superfamily:
Chrysomeloidea
Family:
Chrysomelidae
Genus:
Diamphidia

Species

Diamphidia, or Bushman arrow-poison beetle, is an African genus of flea beetles, in the family Chrysomelidae.

The larvae and pupae of Diamphidia produce a toxin used by Bushmen as an arrow poison.[1][2] The Finnish explorer Hendrik Jacob Wikar, who travelled in Southern Africa in 1773–1779, described the larvae as "poisonous worms". Hans Schinz was the first scientist to document the process by which the Bushmen extract and use the poison.

The adults and larvae of Diamphidia nigroornata feed on Commiphora angolensis (Engler), whereas Diamphidia vittatipennis eat African myrrh.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference biodiversity was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid6523515 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).