Скачать или смотреть Farmers Fear This Tiny Beetle

Blister beetles, found across North America and other regions, contain a potent toxin called cantharidin, a chemical defense compound that can cause severe blistering of the skin and dangerous poisoning if ingested. Documented livestock deaths, particularly in horses, have occurred when beetles were accidentally crushed and baled into hay, allowing cantharidin to contaminate feed even in small quantities. Because the toxin remains active long after the insect dies, outbreaks can appear sudden and mysterious to farmers. This episode explores how a small, seemingly insignificant beetle has become one of the most feared toxic threats in certain agricultural communities.