Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Blister Beetles (Meloidae) » Meloinae » Oil Beetles (Meloe) » subgenus Meloe (Meloe subgenus Meloe) » Buttercup Oil Beetle (Meloe americanus)
Photo#1047337
Meloe species? Or how I learnt not to trifle with them. - Meloe americanus - female
Copyright © 2015 William Donald Newton

Meloe species? Or how I learnt not to trifle with them. - Meloe americanus - Female
North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA
March 16, 2015
I decided it would be "cool" to bring her to hand and get some details. Note the amber droplets exuded from her "knees".

Images of this individual: tag all
Meloe species? Or how I learnt not to trifle with them. - Meloe americanus - female Meloe species? Or how I learnt not to trifle with them. - Meloe americanus - female Meloe species? Or how I learnt not to trifle with them. - Meloe americanus - female
Contributed by William Donald Newton on 16 March, 2015 - 9:09pm
Last updated 18 March, 2015 - 5:46pm

Moved
Moved from Oil Beetles.
… v belov, 18 March, 2015 - 5:46pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request. You were wise to wash your hands. The oily exudate contains cantharidins - skin irritants. For interesting reading on the life cycle of these creatures, and how their larvae infest bee nests, check out the 'info' section under Meloe.
… Joe, 16 March, 2015 - 9:37pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo