Meloe americanus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Meloe americanus is a type of blister beetle (Meloidae) found in North America. It is most relevant to the fields of agriculture and veterinary medicine. Adult beetles feed on different types of plants, which cause crop damage. They also release a fluid containing a chemical that is toxic, and at high concentrations lethal, to mammals. The first instar larvae are uniquely active and mobile, utilizing phoresy and parasitism to feed and mature through their developmental stages.
Meloe americanus, or the American oil beetle, is a type of blister beetle. It belongs to the genus Meloe, which is one of the larger genera in the Meloidae family, with 146 known species. They are called “oil beetles” because of a fluid they release from their joints when they feel threatened. Adult body length ranges from 7 mm to 17 mm [8]. M. americanus are entirely black, and sometimes they can be seen with a blue metallic hue. They are soft-bodied and long-legged, with their neck region skinnier than their head and abdomen. The elytra are short and abbreviated, while the hind wings are not present. Therefore, M. americanus are unable to fly as adults. Both females and males have similar... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Buttercup Oil Beetle sighting in Austin on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1106th most-seen of the 1624 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January and February
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Buttercup Oil Beetle in Austin on a given day, against under 5% in March to December, the lowest months.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Buttercup Oil Beetle sightings, Austin has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Dallas (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Buttercup Oil Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Austin (13 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
