title: Cantharidin and demethylcantharidin (palasonin) content of blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) from southern Africa.
abstract: In two species of meloid beetles, Hycleus oculatus and Hycleus tinctus, from southern Africa, cantharidin and demethylcantharidin (palasonin) were assayed quantitatively. For cantharidin the mean value per specimen was about 1 mg for H. oculatus and 0.2 mg for H. tinctus, the mean palasonin concentration was 20 (H. oculatus) and 12 times (H. tinctus) lower, respectively. However, considerable individual variation in the cantharidin concentration was observed and values of more than 6 mg of this compound per beetle were measured pointing to the high risk of severe and even fatal poisoning when ingesting these insects.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum der Rechtsmedizin, University of Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt, Germany. mebs@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mebs
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pogoda
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Gerold
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kauert
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000737:chemistry*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; C470227:palasonin; D002193:Cantharidin