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Oil Beetle

Posted by December 28th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

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Blister Beetles

ant head and torso, large beetle type body?
Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 8:21 AM
Found a large black bug last night. Has an ant head and torsoe and a beetle type body. It’s about 1 and 1/4 inches long.
Bill
Spring Hill, TN

oil beetle bill1 300x261 Oil Beetle

Oil Beetle

Hi Bill,
This is a Blister Beetle in the genus Meloe, commonly called an Oil Beetle because of the substance cantharidin that is secreted from the leg joints.  The genus, represented by 22 difficult to distinguish species, is found throughout North America according to BugGuide.

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