Epicauta

Definition

A large genus of blister beetles (family Meloidae) distributed nearly worldwide except Australia and Antarctica. Adults feed on foliage of various plants, while larvae are predatory on grasshopper eggs, giving the genus significant ecological and agricultural relevance. Many species contain cantharidin, a defensive compound toxic to vertebrates.

Etymology

From Greek epikautos, meaning 'burning upon' or 'scorching,' alluding to the blistering skin reaction caused by contact with these beetles.

Example

Epicauta vittata, the striped blister beetle, is a common agricultural pest in the eastern United States; swarms can defoliate tomato and potato crops, and contaminated hay containing crushed beetles can poison horses.

Related Terms

• Meloidae
• Blister beetle
• Cantharidin
• Hypermetamorphosis
• Meloe
• Lytta
• grasshopper egg predator

Usage Notes

Epicauta is one of the most species-rich genera in Meloidae, with particularly high diversity in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Species identification often requires examination of male genitalia. The genus is frequently implicated in equine cantharidin toxicosis when dried beetles are baled into alfalfa hay. Contrast with the oil beetle genus Meloe, which has short elytra and a different larval biology.