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''Diamphidia nigroornata'' or Bushman arrow-poison beetle, is an African leaf beetle species in the genus ''Diamphidia''. The larvae and pupae of ''Diamphidia'' produce a toxin used by Bushmen as an arrow poison.〔〔 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''. == Life cycle == Adult females of ''Diamphidia nigroornata'' lay their eggs on the stems of ''Commiphora'' species and coat the eggs with their faeces which harden into a protective covering. As the larval instars develop, the pellets of their own faeces remain attached to their backs and posteriors.〔Chaboo CS, Grobbelaar E, Larsen A, (Fecal Ecology in Leaf Beetles: Novel Records in the African Arrow-Poison Beetles, Diamphidia Gerstaecker and Polyclada Chevrolat (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) ) (2007) ''The Coleopterists Bulletin'': Vol. 61, No. 2 pp. 297–309〕 The final instar sheds this faecal coat when entering the soil to pupate. The ''Diamphidia'' larvae burrow down for a depth of up to 1 metre in the sand under the food plant, where they may lie dormant for several years before going through a very rapid pupal phase. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Diamphidia nigroornata」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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