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Genus Epicauta

Grey and black beetle - Epicauta funebris Striped Blister Beetle - Epicauta unknown black beetle - Epicauta pennsylvanica Blister Beetle Epicauta sp - Epicauta maculata rust colored beetle - Epicauta ferruginea Blister Beetle - Epicauta fabricii blister beetle - Epicauta conferta Striped Blister beetle - Epicauta
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Tenebrionoidea (Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles)
Family Meloidae (Blister Beetles)
Subfamily Meloinae
Tribe Epicautini
Genus Epicauta
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Epicauta Dejean, 1834
Explanation of Names
From Greek epi upon, plus caut burn, burning(1) (refers to toxic secretions of these beetles)
Numbers
The largest genus of blister beetles in North America, with 173 spp. in our area arranged in 2 subgenera(2). Most species belong to the nominate subgenus(3); the rest (listed below), to the subgenus Macrobasis.
Nearctic species of Epicauta (Macrobasis)
alastor Skinner, 1904
albida (Say, 1824)
alpina Werner, 1944
arizonica Werner, 1944
atrivittata (LeConte, 1854)
balli Werner, 1945
fabricii (LeConte, 1853)
flavocinerea (Blatchley, 1910)
gissleri (Horn, 1878)
hirsutipubescens (Maydell, 1934)
immaculata (Say, 1824)
ingrata Fall, 1907
lauta (Horn, 1885)
liebecki Werner, 1944
linearis (LeConte, 1858)
longicollis (LeConte, 1853)
maculifera (Maydell, 1934)
mimetica (Horn, 1875)
murina (LeConte, 1853)
ochrea (LeConte, 1853)
parkeri Werner, 1944
polingi Werner, 1944
purpurea (Horn, 1885)
segmenta (Say, 1824)
subglabra (Fall, 1922)
sublineata (LeConte, 1854)
tenella (LeConte, 1858)
tenuilineata (Horn, 1894)
tenuis (LeConte, 1853)
texana Werner, 1944
torsa (LeConte, 1853)
uniforma Werner, 1944
valida (LeConte, 1853)
virgulata (LeConte, 1866)
Size
body length 4-18 mm
Identification
Similar to Lytta, but this genus has a patch of hair on underside of front femur (4). Also, Epicauta has nearly thread-like antennae (5):

while Lytta has almost bead-like (submoniliform) antennae:

Frequently asked question: What angles/details are necessary to get an Epicauta identified from photographs?
John D. Pinto answering:
There is no general recipe. For species ID of some we need to see palpi; for others its tibial spurs; for others it may be hind coxae. For the Caviceps Group the head capsule may be important. These features are not easily documented in field photos. In general, for the subgenus Macrobasis which includes many southwestern species we should have males. Males for all groups are generally best unless the species has a unique color pattern or a unique shape. Fortunately genitalia are of little to no use in Epicauta. Many common Epicauta are simply difficult to identify from photogarphs - field photos are poor substitutes for having a specimen in hand. It seems that it would eventually be worthwhile to photograph authoritatively identified material in museums – virtually all the US species of Epicauta could be done rather easily. Field photos seem to be an inefficient way to get our fauna documented for the non-specialist.
Range
Across the continent, but most diverse in the sw. US(2)
Remarks
Some species are crop pests.
See Also
Internet References