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Blister BeetlesSome sort of blister beetle?
Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 1:34 PM
We were out walking Jester again and nearly tripped over this fellow walking down the road. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a macro lens or adapter with me so the photos aren’t all that good, but I couldn’t resist.
There do seem to be rather a lot of these beetles around lately — I don’t actually remember ever seeing them at all, before.
Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy this site?
Thanks,
Pat
Southwest Michigan (about a mile or so from Lake Michigan)
Oil Beetle
Hi Pat,
Your Blister Beetle is in the genus Meloe, the Oil Beetles. The common name refers to the oily substance that is emitted by the joints of the leg. This oily substance contains cantharidin which is a skin irritant explaining the common name Blister Beetle used for the entire family Meloidae. The infamous aphrodisiac Spanish Fly was originally derived from a European relative Lytta vesicatoria.
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