Epicauta straba
Horn, 1891
Epicauta straba is a blister beetle in the Meloidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1891. It is one of the most commonly collected Epicauta species in North American museum holdings, with 332 specimens documented in the Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside. The species occurs across Central America and North America. Like other members of the , it is expected to produce , a defensive terpenoid compound characteristic of blister beetles.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Epicauta straba: /ˈɛ.pɪˌkɔː.tə ˈstræ.bə/
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Distribution
Central America and North America. GBIF records confirm presence in both Middle America and North America. The is well-represented in North American collections, with substantial holdings from the southwestern United States and adjacent regions.
More Details
Taxonomic authority
Originally described by George Henry Horn in 1891. The is placed in the subgenus Epicauta (Epicauta) within the Epicauta.
Collection frequency
With 332 specimens in the UCR Entomology Research Museum collection as of 2010, E. straba is among the most frequently collected Epicauta , comparable to E. puncticollis (806 specimens), E. pruinosa (562 specimens), and E. pensylvanica (329 specimens).