Genus 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)
Genus Epicauta
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Two subgenera recognized (1)Explanation of Names From Greek epi upon, plus caut burn, burning (2). Refers to toxic secretions of these beetles. Numbers The largest genus of blister beetles in North America.
nearctica.com lists 106 North American species. Arnett 2000 (3) lists 111, Arnett et al. (eds) 2002 (1), 173 spp.
Most Nearctic species belong to the subgenus Epicauta (s.str.); the rest (listed below), to Epicauta (Macrobasis).
Nearctic species of Epicauta (Macrobasis)
alastor Skinner, 1904
alpina Werner, 1944
atrivittata (LeConte, 1854)
balli Werner, 1945
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)
parkeri Werner, 1944
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) 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:
Range Primarily southwestern U.S. (1)Remarks Some species are crop pests. Print References Arnett, American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico (3), p. 473
White, Peterson's Field Guide to Beetles, pages 271-273, plate 6 (4)
Dillon and Dillon, Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America (5)
Milne and Milne, National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders, pages 588-589, plates 161 & 167 (6)
Pinto, J.D. 1991. The taxonomy of North American Epicauta (Coleoptera: Meloidae), with a revision of the nominate subgenus and a survey of courtship behavior. Univ. Calif. Publ. Entomol., Vol. 110, 372 pp, 39 pls.
Internet References U. of Florida detailed family account, including life cycle, images of Florida blister beetles, and some species of Epicauta
nearctica.com list of North American species
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