• flooppoolf@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    58
    ·
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    There’s a beetle that secretes a burning / poisonous substance whenever it has sex and the female will gladly cover the eggs in said poison to deter predators from eating them.

    This same poison (cantharidin) can be used topically to treat molluscum contagiosum bumps which is a very common virus that affects children for putting their hands absolutely on all dirty surfaces but also in grown adults in the form of a sexually transmitted disease.

    Some places consider it an aphrodisiac but it’s just a poison. Don’t eat it.

    • Obi
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      25
      ·
      10 months ago

      Ok I won’t, I’ll just keep licking frogs for those intense psychedelic trips instead.