Lytta mirifica
Werner, 1950
Anthony blister beetle
Lytta mirifica, commonly known as the Anthony , is a of blister beetle in the . It was described by Werner in 1950 and is found in North America. The species belongs to the large Lytta, which contains numerous blister beetle species characterized by their production of , a toxic defensive compound. Like other members of its genus, L. mirifica is likely to exhibit the typical blister beetle involving and association with nests, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lytta mirifica: //ˈlɪtə mɪˈrɪfɪkə//
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Distribution
North America. The has been documented in the western United States, with museum records indicating specimens from the southwestern region.
More Details
Taxonomic Placement
Lytta mirifica is placed in the subgenus Paralytta within the Lytta, based on the museum collection arrangement at the Research Museum (Pinto, 2010). The subgenus Paralytta contains numerous North including L. magister, L. vulnerata, and L. tenebrosa.
Specimen Availability
As of 2010, the Research Museum held 8 specimens of Lytta mirifica, indicating it is a relatively rare in collections compared to more common such as L. magister (344 specimens) or L. vulnerata (359 specimens).