|
Family Meloidae - Blister Beetles
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Tenebrionoidea
Family Meloidae (Blister Beetles)
Explanation of Names the common name refers to the ability of causing skin blisters
Numbers ~410 spp. in 22 genera of 3 subfamilies in our area, ~3000 spp. in 120 genera of 4 subfamilies worldwide (1)(2)
Overview of our fauna
Family Meloidae
Size 3‒70 mm (3), typically 10‒20 mm Identification Key to New World genera in (4) • Overview of FL fauna (Selander & Fasulo 2010) (5)
Short-winged forms
Range worldwide, with greatest diversity in arid/semiarid areas (in our area, sw. US) (1)Food For larval food, most use the provisions and brood of native ground-nesting bees (esp. Megachilidae & Andrenidae); several genera (in our area, Epicauta & Linsleya) use grasshopper eggs (Acridoidea) (6). Adults feed on leaves and flowers of several families, incl. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae (1)Life Cycle Life cycle is hypermetamorphic, takes from 30 days to 3 yrs. Larvae are parasitoids. Eggs are laid in batches in soil near nests of hosts, sometimes in nest, or on stems/foliage/flowers. First instar larvae (triungulins) are active, have well-developed legs and antennae, and search for hosts. Later instars tend to have reduced legs and be less active. There is a coarctate (pseudopupal) stage, which is usually how the larvae overwinter. (1)
Triungulins of some meloids, e.g. Meloe, aggregate and attract male bees with chemicals ( Saul-Gershenz & Millar 2006) Remarks Rubbing or squashing blister beetles may cause them to exude hemolymph which contains cantharidin, a blistering compound. Ingestion of beetles can be fatal. Epicauta occidentalis can be a problem for livestock as they get caught in with the alfalfa feed. Several other Epicauta and Meloe spp. may also be present in alfalfa. ( Capinera et. al. 1985)
Males of some other beetles (notably, Pedilus and some Anthicidae) seek out blister beetles, lick off the exuded cantharidin, and use the agent to impress females; the cantharidin is transferred to the female with the sperm during mating. The laid eggs are coated with cantharidin to protect from predators. Some plant bugs (e.g. Aoplonema) are also attracted to meloid beetles. (based on Jim McClarin's comment)
See Also Cantharidae have flat elytra · Oedemeridae have no "neck" · Pyrochroidae · Ripiphoridae and Cleridae also have bee-parasitizing triungulins Print References Dillon, L.S. 1952. The Meloidae (Coleoptera) of Texas. American Midland Naturalist. 48(2): 330-420. (7)
AZ (8), CO (9), MD (10), TX (7), WI (3)(6)Works Cited | 1. | American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea
Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.). 2002. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL. |  |
| 3. | The Meloidae (Coleoptera) of Wisconsin
Marschalek D.A., Young D.K. 2015. Zootaxa 4030: 1‒89. | |
| 6. | Blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) of Wisconsin: distribution and ecology
Marschalek D.A. 2013. University of Wisconsin - Madison. PhD dissertation. viii+349 pp. | |
| 7. | The Meloidae (Coleoptera) of Texas
Dillon, Lawrence S. 1952. American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 48, No. 2:330-420. | |
| 8. | The Meloidae of Arizona
Werner, F. G., W. R. Enns and F. H. Parker. 1966. Agricultural Experiment Station. | |
| 9. | The blister beetles (Meloidae) of Colorado
Schmidt, J.P. 2008. 2008. C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, Fort Collins, CO. | |
| 10. | The Meloidae of Maryland
Staines C.L. 1983. Maryland Entomologist 2(3): 41-52. | |
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm Additional contributions by cotinis, Bug Eric, Beatriz Moisset, Phillip Harpootlian, Hartmut Wisch, McClarinJ, Chris Wirth, Bbarnd, Mike Quinn, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, Marci Hess, Arturo SantosLast updated 6 October, 2024 - 1:39pm |
|
|
|
