Poison Source: Toxic birds may get chemical from beetle

After more than a decade of searching, researchers have found a promising explanation for the defensive chemicals that have been identified in poisonous birds of New Guinea. When the birds eat certain tiny beetles, they may be stocking up on the toxic substance, the scientists suggest.

TOXIC FOOD CHAIN? In New Guinea, tiny beetles—each only about 7 millimeters long (above)—carry a poison and may pass it along to insect-eating pitohui birds (below).