Epicauta occidentalis

Werner, 1944

Epicauta occidentalis is a of blister beetle in the Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. The species is to North America. Like other members of the Epicauta, it possesses defensive , a toxic compound that causes blistering upon contact with skin. The specific epithet 'occidentalis' refers to its western distribution. The species is represented by 40 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection at the University of California, Riverside.

Epicauta occidentalis P1160097a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Epicauta occidentalis P1190020a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Epicauta vittata P1160091a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Epicauta occidentalis: /ˌepɪˈkaʊtə ˌɒksɪˈdɛntəlɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Distribution

North America. The name 'occidentalis' suggests a western North American distribution, though precise range boundaries are not documented in available sources.

Human Relevance

Members of the Epicauta, including E. occidentalis, contain , a defensive compound that causes blistering upon skin contact. This chemical defense is characteristic of the Meloidae.

Tags

Sources and further reading