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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Blister Beetles (Meloidae) » Meloinae » Lytta » Subgenus Pomphopoea (Lytta Subgenus Pomphopoea) » Bronze Blister Beetle (Lytta polita)
Photo#91023
Lytta polita
Copyright © 2006 Jeff Hollenbeck

Lytta polita
Kerr City, Marion County, Florida, USA
December 24, 2006
Size: BL 25mm
Head was purple.
Soft, docile beetles. They must have a foul taste.

Images of this individual: tag all
Lytta polita Lytta polita Lytta polita
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Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck on 26 December, 2006 - 6:26pm
Last updated 26 December, 2006 - 9:43pm

Meloidae
I'm thinking Lytta for genus.

They probably do taste bad but it's their blister-causing cantharidin toxin that predators are leery of. I've never had them blister me but I don't think they've "bled" on me anywhere but the palm side of my hands where the skin is probably too thick for the cantharidin to penetrate easily.
… Jim McClarin, 26 December, 2006 - 6:58pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Jim. Lytta polita seems to be the only species in FL.
I figured they had some sort of defense against predators, as they seem like easy prey.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 26 December, 2006 - 9:40pm login or register to post comments

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