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Autohaemorrhaging, or reflex bleeding, is the action of animals deliberately ejecting blood from their bodies. Autohaemorrhaging has been observed as occurring in two variations.[1] In the first form, blood is squirted toward a predator. The blood of these animals usually contains toxic compounds, making the behaviour an effective chemical defense mechanism. In the second form, blood is not squirted, but is slowly emitted from the animal's body. This form appears to serve a deterrent effect, and is used by animals whose blood does not seem to be toxic.[1] Most animals that autohaemorrhage are insects, but some reptiles also display this behaviour.[2]
Some organisms have shown an ability to tailor their autohaemorrhaging response. Armoured crickets will projectile autohaemorrhage over longer distances when attacked from the side, compared to being attacked from an overhead predator.[3]
Meloidae (blister beetles) – their haemolymph contains cantharidin that they sequester from plants on which they feed. One of the known species is Meloe americanus.[4]
Coccinellidae (ladybird, ladybug or lady beetles) – An alkaloid toxin in the haemolymph is exuded through the joints of the exoskeleton, triggered by mechanical stimulation (such as predator attack).[6]
Horned lizards (Phrynosomatidae). At least six species of horned lizards are able to squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of their eyes, up to 5 feet (1.5 m).[12]
West Indian wood snake (Tropidophis). Thirteen species have been found to expel blood from the mouth and nostrils while also fully flooding both eyes with blood.[13]
European grass snake (Natrix natrix), which secretes blood from the lining of the mouth while playing dead.[14]
In some cases, the loss of blood can be substantial. Beetles may lose up to 13% of their net body weight as a consequence of expelling haemolymph.[16] Autohaemorrhaging may result in dehydration. The ejection of blood puts organisms at risk of cannibalism from other members of their species.[17]
An inactive prepupaAsian ladybeetle autohaemorrhaging, resulting from cannibalism by an adult of the same species.
^Bateman, P. W.; Fleming, P. A. (2009). "There will be blood: autohaemorrhage behaviour as part of the defence repertoire of an insect". Journal of Zoology. 278 (4): 342–348. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00582.x. ISSN1469-7998.
^Bateman, Philip W.; Fleming, Patricia A. (2012-04-26). "Signaling or Not-Signaling: Variation in Vulnerability and Defense Tactics of Armored Ground Crickets (Acanthoplus Speiseri: Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Hetrodinae)". Journal of Insect Behavior. 26 (1): 14–22. doi:10.1007/s10905-012-9329-5. ISSN0892-7553. S2CID18599346.
^Rider, S. Dean; Hostetler, Heather A. (21 June 2022). "Reflex Bleeding in Tonically Immobilized Larvae Causes Debris-Based Camouflage in the Blue Death-Feigning Beetle, Asbolus verrucosus LeConte (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 76 (2): 237-247. doi:10.1649/0010-065X-76.2.237. S2CID249480941.
^Bateman, Philip W.; Fleming, Patricia A. (2012-04-26). "Signaling or Not-Signaling: Variation in Vulnerability and Defense Tactics of Armored Ground Crickets (Acanthoplus Speiseri: Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Hetrodinae)". Journal of Insect Behavior. 26 (1): 14–22. doi:10.1007/s10905-012-9329-5. ISSN0892-7553. S2CID18599346.
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