Beetle's 'meat' toads

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that adult Epomis beetles can cause problems, even eating predatory toads and amphibians.

>>>Video: "Meat" beetle beetles

When the researchers placed the Epomis bug and carried it into the same barrel, the results showed that the toad was defeated by the bug.

The bug will bite into the mouth of the toad and eat toad (Photo: news.discovery)

After the two animals are placed close together, the bug begins to move its head and beard to attract the toad's attention.

Toads and amphibians regularly eat the Epomis larvae, so the toads think it has detected a meal and start coming closer. The closer it gets, the more the larva beckons.

Toad sticks his tongue to catch larvae, but when he gets into his mouth, Epomis uses his mouth to bite into his toads and sucks the water of the toad and then eats. Sometimes larvae get only one snack and the toads are vulnerable, but they often become a larval lunch.

Even the toad swallowed the bug, it still lived in the stomach for 2 hours and came out of the mouth and ate the toad meat.

The researchers note that this may be a protective mechanism in the evolution of Epomis. Because of this bug and its larvae live in the same environment as amphibians.