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Blister Beetlesant 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
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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