Blister beetle
family of beetles
The blister beetle is a beetle of the family Meloidae. They secrete cantharidin, a chemical that causes blisters. About 7,500 species are known worldwide. They are poisonous to predators.
| Blister beetles | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hycleus lugens: notice the warning colouration | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Meloidae Gyllenhaal, 1810 |
| Subfamilies | |
Blister beetles go through several larval stages. The larvae mainly attack bees. They also eat grasshopper eggs.
Blister beetles are attracted to alfalfa and weeds during bloom.
