Epicauta brunnea

Werner, 1944

blister beetle

Epicauta brunnea is a of blister beetle in the Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. It is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the Epicauta, it produces , a defensive terpenoid compound that is toxic to most vertebrates and causes blistering upon contact with skin.

Epicauta brunnea by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Epicauta brunnea: /ˌɛpɪˈkaʊtə ˈbrʊniə/

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Distribution

Central America and North America. The has been recorded in both Middle America and North America regions according to GBIF distribution data.

Ecological Role

As a member of the Epicauta, this likely contributes to -based chemical defense in . Epicauta species are known to have triungulin larvae that parasitize pods, potentially influencing grasshopper .

Human Relevance

Epicauta blister beetles can be agricultural pests when present in alfalfa hay, where they pose risks to horses and livestock due to content. However, specific documented cases involving E. brunnea are not available in the provided sources.

Similar Taxa

Epicauta vittataBoth are grayish Epicauta found in North America; E. vittata is one of the most well-studied species in the with documented high content (5.4% dry weight), and shares similar general and .
Epicauta pensylvanicaAnother common North American Epicauta with similar body plan and coloration; both are frequently found on Asteraceae flowers and can be difficult to distinguish without close examination.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Epicauta brunnea was described by Werner in 1944. The is placed in the subgenus Epicauta (Epicauta) based on museum collection arrangements. The Epicauta is one of the largest in Meloidae with over 150 species, many of which are difficult to identify without examination.

Collection Records

According to the Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside, 118 specimens of Epicauta brunnea were held in their Meloidae collection as of April 2010.