Oil beetle sketch | Limited edition fine art print from an original drawing.

Oil beetles are known for their defensive strategy of 'reflex bleeding', where they secrete a toxic, oily substance (cantharidin) from their joints when threatened. They have a complex life cycle; larvae (triungulins) are parasitic and often hitch rides on solitary bees to reach their nests. The common name 'oil beetle' refers to the oily chemical they exude, which can cause skin blistering on humans.
I sat in the damp undergrowth for hours, patiently waiting for this tiny wonder to reveal its intricate form against the forest floor. There is something profoundly moving about capturing the secret, fragile existence of a creature that most of the world will never even notice.