Posts Tagged ‘blister beetle’

Lytta vesicatoria the Spanish Fly

Lytta vesicatoria spanish fly blister beetle 1Lytta vesicatoria spanish fly blister beetleLytta vesicatoria is included in order coleoptera and family of Meloidae. Spanish Fly is the other name of this blister beetle. The body fluid of Lytta vesicatoria contain cantharidin, a substance that causes severe irritation and blistering of skin. This chemical is very sensitive to mucous membranes and is the active ingredient of this beetle. Lytta vesicatoria lives in scrublands and woods. We can see these beetles in southern Europe and eastward to Central Asia and Siberia

Lytta vesicatoria have an emerald-green color with 15 mm to 22 mm long and 5 mm to 8 mm wide.  An adult Lytta vesicatoria feed on leaves of ash, lilac, amur privet, white willow trees, and the larvae are parasitic on the brood of ground nesting bees.

Posted by on February 19th, 2010 15 Comments