While hiking in the Sierras, my friend and I paid a visit to the Manzanar Japanese Relocation Camp (http://www.nps.gov/manz/). While checking out the memorial, I noticed these beetles all over the place. They were eating small plants that were growing through the gravel... . They are pretty quick for their size and do not like cameras in their little beetle faces (which kind of look like large ant heads).. they turn around immediately, everytime.

This one is Eating.

For more information on the poisonous chemical compound secreted by the Blister Beetle, I urge all to visit the Wikipedia site for Cantharidin.

Something interesting: "Diluted, it can be used to remove warts and tattoos. In addition, it can be used to treat the small papules of Molluscum contagiosum. However, when ingested 10 mg is usually a fatal dose."