Graphosoma italicum

From greek, graphe, writing; and soma, body.

Italicum, from Italy.

 

Sp italicum. Las patas completamente negras. Black legs.

Sp lineatum. Las patas bicolor. Two colour legs

 

 

In contrast to the common technique of mimicry or camouflage, this insect practises the opposite, i.e. aposematism. It consists of doing just that, making itself more visible to indicate its toxicity at the species level. A predator that eats it or tries to eat it will make an individual being disappear, but it will not try again with a similar one.

We can "smell" this toxicity at the human level when we pick it up, as we will soon get the stinking "bedbug smell" on our hands.

 

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Frente a la mayoritaria técnica del mimetismo o camuflaje, este insecto practica la contraria, es decir, el aposematismo. Consiste en precisamente éso, hacerse más visible para indicar su toxicidad a nivel de especie. Un depredador que lo coma o intente comer hará que un ser individual desaparezca, pero ya no lo volverá a intentar con ninguno similar.

Esta toxicidad a nivel humano la podemos "oler" al cogerlo, ya que pronto se nos quedará en las manos el hediondo "olor a chinche".

 

 

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