Well observed. It's
haemolymph which is the insect
equivalent of vertebrate blood but very different. The release of haemolymph has two effects - it
smells horrible so that mammalian predators (shrews and hedgehogs, for instance) are not tempted to predate them but mainly, since it
tastes horrible, birds will 'spit' them out and learn not to taste them gain!
PS: I have no sense of smell but can attest that they taste really horrible!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green  Hi James,
Indeed it is. Can you see the drop of yellow liquid ( ...it's blood) on the false eye on the pronotum? It tried giving a hint by the look of it! They do that as a deterrent to predators when they feel threatened. It's perfectly normal for ladybirds to bite upon occasion - though I believe the Harlie is naturally more aggressive and may do so more readily - but what is embarrassing is confessing to being bitten by a Bush-cricket NYMPH!  |