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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles (Tenebrionoidea) » Blister Beetles (Meloidae) » Epicauta
Photo#314823
Which Blister Beetle? - Epicauta
Copyright © 2009 Keith Roragen

Which Blister Beetle? - Epicauta
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, USA
August 3, 2009
Size: about 20 mm
Blister beetle found feeding on Hosta. Can anyone ID it? From the size I'm guessing a female. There were several smaller individuals as well.

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Which Blister Beetle? - Epicauta Which Blister Beetle? - Epicauta
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Contributed by Keith Roragen on 3 August, 2009 - 7:18pm
Last updated 5 August, 2009 - 7:51pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Keith Roragen, 5 August, 2009 - 7:51pm login or register to post comments

Not sure which species...
But its some sort of Epicauta

http://bugguide.net/node/view/4998/bgimage

As to the wetness, its probably a perfect example why blister beetles get their name. When startled they exude their hemolymph which has cantharadin in it and causes skin irritation. Also this does look like a gravid female.
… Natalie Hernandez, 3 August, 2009 - 8:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes.
I had captured it and kept it in a little container before releasing it. It also seemed to be defecating. You can see that a bit in the other photo. Note the green blotch at the tip of the elytra and the long green substance at the tip of the abdomen.
… Keith Roragen, 3 August, 2009 - 8:40pm login or register to post comments

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