Lytta

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
Family: Meloidae
Subfamily: Meloinae
Genus: Lytta

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lytta: //ˈlɪtə//

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

Images

Lytta aenea (39545425660) by Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Blister Beetle - Lytta nuttalli?, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, California by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Blister Beetle - Lytta nuttalli?, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, California - 26277046982 by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

American entomology (Plate 3) (6026021445) by Say, Thomas. Used under a Public domain license.

Lytta stygica by Rachel Allingham. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Lytta auriculata - Flickr - aspidoscelis by Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Lytta is a genus of blister beetles known for the toxic cantharidin produced by males, primarily exemplified by Lytta vesicatoria, the Spanish fly, which has historical significance in traditional medicine and toxicology.

Physical Characteristics

Slender, soft-bodied metallic and iridescent golden-green; approximately 5 mm (0.2 in) wide by 20 mm (0.8 in) long.

Identification Tips

Aposematic coloration; no hairy patch on underside of profemora, antennae submoniliform.

Habitat

Primarily found in Eurasia, mainly in southern Europe; adults inhabit areas where their bee hosts are found.

Distribution

Found across Eurasia, with records from southern Great Britain and Poland. Most diverse in western United States.

Diet

Adults eat foliage, flowers, pollen, and fruit; larvae feed on bee larvae and bees' food supplies.

Life Cycle

Females lay fertilized eggs on the ground near the nests of ground-nesting solitary bees. Larvae climb flowering plants, attach to bees, and feed in bee nests.

Reproduction

Males synthesize cantharidin, which is transferred to females during mating; this benefits the female and enhances reproductive success for the male.

Predators

Predators are likely deterred by cantharidin toxicity and aposematic coloration.

Ecosystem Role

Parasitic relationship with solitary bees; larvae serve as both predators and parasites.

Economic Impact

Historically used in apothecary preparations, occasionally commercially prepared as cantharides, contributing to toxicological concerns and practices in medicine.

Cultural Significance

Used as a traditional aphrodisiac and in culinary practices, particularly in North African cuisine; ancient uses included treatment for various ailments and as a weapon (stink bomb).

Health Concerns

Cantharidin is dangerously toxic, causing severe health issues including blistering and gastrointestinal complications; implicated in various poisonings.

Evolution

Part of the tribe Lyttini within the family Meloidae, with a historical misclassification leading to its current genus Lytta.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Misidentified in the past; not related to the soldier beetles of the Cantharidae family.