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Meloidae
Blister beetles are beetles of the family Meloidae, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. About 7,500 species are known worldwide. Many are conspicuous and some are aposematically colored, announcing their toxicity to would-be predators. Description Blister beetles are hypermetamorphic, going through several larval stages, the first of which is typically a mobile triungulin. The larvae are insectivorous, mainly attacking bees, though a few feed on grasshopper eggs. While sometimes considered parasitoids, in general, the meloid larva apparently consumes the immature host along with its provisions, and can often survive on the provisions alone; thus it is not an obligatory parasitoid, but rather a facultative parasitoid, or simply a kleptoparasite. The adults sometimes feed on flowers and leaves of plants of such diverse families as the Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae. Cantharidin, a poisonous chemical that causes b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Epicauta
''Epicauta'' is a genus of beetles in the blister beetle family, Meloidae. The genus was first scientifically described in 1834 by Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean. ''Epicauta'' is distributed nearly worldwide, with species native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica.Kerr, J. T. and L. Packer. (1999)The environmental basis of North American species richness patterns among ''Epicauta'' (Coleoptera: Meloidae). ''Biodiversity & Conservation'' 8(5), 617-28. Surveys have found the genus to be particularly diverse in northern Arizona in the United States. Few species occur in the Arctic, with none farther north than the southern Northwest Territory of Canada. Adult beetles feed on plants. The larvae are predators on the eggs of grasshoppers. The beetles can significantly damage plants, and many ''Epicauta'' are known as agricultural pests around the world, even known to cause crop failures at times. As do other blister beetles, these produce cantharidin, a toxic te ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 described species, is the largest of all orders, constituting almost 40% of described insects and 25% of all known animal life-forms; new species are discovered frequently, with estimates suggesting that there are between 0.9 and 2.1 million total species. Found in almost every habitat except the sea and the polar regions, they interact with their ecosystems in several ways: beetles often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates. Some species are serious agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle, while others such as Coccinellidae (ladybirds or ladybugs) eat aphids, scale insects, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops. Beetles typically have a particularly har ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Triungulin
A planidium is a specialized form of insect larva seen in the first-instar of a few families of insects that have parasitoidal ways of life. They are usually flattened, highly sclerotized (hardened), and quite mobile. The function of the planidial stage is to find a host on which the later larval instars may feed, generally until the insect pupates. Etymology The term "planidium" is derived from the Greek language ''πλανής'' (planis) meaning "wanderer". The term planula was similarly derived in reference to the wandering larvae of certain Cnidaria. Accordingly, "planidium" is the general term for such an adaptation, and it is not limited to any particular species or morphology. Planidia of different species differ variously from each other in form. The first instar larva in the beetle family Meloidae has three claws on each foot, and is therefore called a triungulin (plural ''triungula''). The term is derived from the Latin ''tri'' meaning "three" and ''ungula'' meaning ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lytta Vesicatoria
The Spanish fly (''Lytta vesicatoria'') is an aposematic emerald-green beetle in the blister beetle family (Meloidae). It is distributed across Eurasia. The species and others in its family were used in traditional apothecary preparations as "Cantharides". The insect is the source of the terpenoid cantharidin, a toxic blistering agent once used as an exfoliating agent, anti-rheumatic drug and an aphrodisiac. The substance has also found culinary use in some blends of the North African spice mix ''ras el hanout''. Its various supposed benefits have been responsible for accidental poisonings. Etymology and taxonomy The generic name is from the Greek λύττα (''lytta''), meaning martial rage, raging madness, Bacchic frenzy, or rabies. The specific name is derived from Latin ''vesica'', blister. ''Lytta vesicatoria'' was formerly named ''Cantharis vesicatoria'', although the genus ''Cantharis'' is in an unrelated family, Cantharidae, the soldier beetles. It was class ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spanish Fly
The Spanish fly (''Lytta vesicatoria'') is an aposematic emerald-green beetle in the blister beetle family (Meloidae). It is distributed across Eurasia. The species and others in its family were used in traditional apothecary preparations as "Cantharides". The insect is the source of the terpenoid cantharidin, a toxic blistering agent once used as an exfoliating agent, anti-rheumatic drug and an aphrodisiac. The substance has also found culinary use in some blends of the North African spice mix '' ras el hanout''. Its various supposed benefits have been responsible for accidental poisonings. Etymology and taxonomy The generic name is from the Greek λύττα (''lytta''), meaning martial rage, raging madness, Bacchic frenzy, or rabies. The specific name is derived from Latin ''vesica'', blister. ''Lytta vesicatoria'' was formerly named ''Cantharis vesicatoria'', although the genus '' Cantharis'' is in an unrelated family, Cantharidae, the soldier beetles. It was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nemognathinae
Nemognathinae is a subfamily of blister beetles in the family Meloidae. There are about 8 genera and at least 120 described species in Nemognathinae. Genera These eight genera belong to the subfamily Nemognathinae: * ''Cissites'' Latreille, 1804 * ''Gnathium'' Kirby, 1818 * '' Hornia'' Riley, 1877 * '' Nemognatha'' Illiger, 1807 * ''Pseudozonitis'' Dillon, 1952 * ''Rhyphonemognatha'' Enns, 1956 * ''Tricrania'' LeConte, 1860 * ''Zonitis ''Zonitis'' is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae. The genus was named and described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. Species According to EOL, GBIF, and Catalogue of Life. * ''Zonitis abdominalis'' Laporte, 1840 * ''Zonitis ...'' Fabricius, 1775 References Further reading * * * * * External links * Meloidae Articles created by Qbugbot {{meloidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mylabris
''Mylabris'' is a genus of beetles in the family Meloidae. It is endemic to the Palearctic realm. The species-rich genus ''Hycleus'' (c. 430 spp.) was historically confused with ''Mylabris''. It is superficially similar, but is centered on the Afrotropics. Species The genus contains the following species: * ''Mylabris abdelkaderi'' (Escalera, 1909) * ''Mylabris afghanica'' Kaszab, 1953 * ''Mylabris ajantaensis'' Saha, 1979 * '' Mylabris alicae'' Pic, 1909 * ''Mylabris allousei'' (Kaszab, 1960) * ''Mylabris alpina'' Ménétriés, 1832 * ''Mylabris alterna'' Laporte de Castelnau, 1840 * ''Mylabris alternata'' Harold, 1870 * ''Mylabris amoenula'' Ménétriés, 1849 * ''Mylabris amori'' Graells, 1858 * '' Mylabris andongoana'' Harold, 1879 * ''Mylabris andrei'' Pic, 1911 * ''Mylabris andresi'' (Pic, 1911) * ''Mylabris angustissima'' Pic, 1909 * ''Mylabris aperta'' Gerstaecker, 1873 * ''Mylabris apicefasciata'' Sumakov, 1929 * ''Mylabris apicenigra'' Sumakov, 1915 * ''Mylabris arcte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cantharidin
Cantharidin is an odorless, colorless fatty substance of the terpenoid class, which is secreted by many species of blister beetles. It is a burn agent or a poison in large doses, but preparations containing it were historically used as aphrodisiacs (Spanish fly). In its natural form, cantharidin is secreted by the male blister beetle and given to the female as a copulatory gift during mating. Afterwards, the female beetle covers her eggs with it as a defense against predators. Poisoning from cantharidin is a significant veterinary concern, especially in horses, but it can also be poisonous to humans if taken internally (where the source is usually experimental self-exposure). Externally, cantharidin is a potent vesicant (blistering agent), exposure to which can cause severe chemical burns. Properly dosed and applied, the same properties have also been used therapeutically, for instance for treatment of skin conditions such as molluscum contagiosum infection of the skin. Cantharid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meloinae
Meloinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Meloidae. There are at least 330 described species in Meloinae. Genera * '' Cordylospasta'' Horn, 1875 * '' Cysteodemus'' LeConte, 1851 (desert spider beetles) * ''Epicauta'' Dejean, 1834 * '' Eupompha'' LeConte, 1858 * '' Linsleya'' MacSwain, 1951 * ''Lytta'' Fabricius, 1775 * ''Megetra'' LeConte, 1859 * '' Meloe'' Linnaeus, 1758 (oil beetles) * '' Phodaga'' LeConte, 1858 * '' Pleuropasta'' Wellman, 1909 * ''Pyrota'' Dejean, 1834 * ''Spastonyx'' Selander, 1954 * ''Tegrodera ''Tegrodera'' is a genus beetles known as iron cross blister beetles and iron cross soldier beetles. They are in the family Meloidae. There are at least three described species in ''Tegrodera''. Species These three species belong to the genus ' ...'' LeConte, 1851 (iron cross blister beetles) References * Lawrence, J. F., and A. F. Newton Jr. / Pakaluk, James, and Stanislaw Adam Slipinski, eds. (1995). "Families and subfamilies of Coleoptera (with select ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lytta
'' Lytta vesicatoria'', the Spanish fly ''Lytta'' is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae. There are about 70 described species in North America, and over 100 species worldwide. Selected species These species, and others, belong to the genus ''Lytta'': * '' Lytta aenea'' Say, 1824 * '' Lytta aeneipennis'' (LeConte, 1851) * '' Lytta agrestis'' (Fall, 1901) * ''Lytta arizonica'' Selander, 1957 * '' Lytta augusti'' Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 * '' Lytta auriculata'' Horn, 1870 (red-eared blister beetle) * '' Lytta battonii'' Kaszab, 1962 * '' Lytta biguttata'' LeConte, 1853 * '' Lytta bipuncticollis'' Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 * '' Lytta blaisdelli'' (Fall, 1909) * '' Lytta boleti'' Marsham, 1802 * ''Lytta bruchi'' Pic, 1927 * '' Lytta canelas'' Selander, 1960 * '' Lytta cardinalis'' Chevrolat, 1834 * '' Lytta childi'' LeConte, 1857 * ''Lytta chloris'' (Fall, 1901) * '' Lytta comans'' Selander, 1960 * '' Lytta corallifera'' Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 * '' Lytta cribrata'' LeConte, 18 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hypermetamorphic
Hypermetamorphosis, or heteromorphosis,P.J. Gullan & P.S. Cranston. 2010. The Insects: An Outline of Entomology, 4th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell. is a term used in entomology that refers to a class of variants of holometabolism, that is to say, complete insect metamorphosis, but where some larval instars are distinct from each other. Description Hypermetamorphosis, as the term normally is used in entomology, refers to a class of variants of holometabolism. In hypermetamorphosis some larval instars are functionally and morphologically distinct from each other. The general case in holometabolous insects such as flies, moths, or wasps, is that all larval stages look similar, growing larger as the insect matures. In hypermetamorphic insects however, at least one instar, usually the first, differs markedly from the rest. In many hypermetamorphic species, the first instars are numerous, tiny, very mobile larvae that must find their way to a food source. The general term for a mob ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aposematism
Aposematism is the Advertising in biology, advertising by an animal to potential predation, predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. This unprofitability may consist of any defences which make the prey difficult to kill and eat, such as toxicity, venom, foul taste or smell, sharp spines, or aggressive nature. These advertising signals may take the form of conspicuous animal coloration, coloration, sounds, odours, or other perception, perceivable characteristics. Aposematic signals are beneficial for both predator and prey, since both avoid potential harm. The term was coined in 1877 by Edward Bagnall Poulton for Alfred Russel Wallace's concept of warning coloration. Aposematism is exploited in Müllerian mimicry, where species with strong defences evolve to resemble one another. By mimicking similarly coloured species, the warning signal to predators is shared, causing them to learn more quickly at less of a cost. A genuine aposematic signal that a species actually ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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