Not Even Sure What Order This is In
Location: Mt. Pisgah, North Carolina
October 23, 2011 8:07 am
We saw this insect in mid-October on a trail next to the Mt. Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was quite active considering it was on the north slope late in the morning.
Signature: Steve
Hi Steve,
Your confusion regarding the insect order is quite understandable since this Oil Beetle is not typically “beetle-like” with its short flightless elytra and soft body. The Oil Beetle is a Blister Beetle in the family Meloidae, and many members of the family are atypical beetles.
I have this beetles all over my back yard, north NJ. I think my dog got sick from it, is it possible? Thank you.
We haven’t read any literature on sickness caused by ingesting an Oil Beetle, but is sounds plausible.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/298594_295096497184699_100000530538106_1083175_1690992962_n.jpg
Yes, this is an Oil Beetle.
Thank you! Should we do anything, because the number of these beetles is tremendous.