Cantharidin
Guides
Pyrota insulata
Yellow-crescent Blister Beetle
Pyrota insulata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, recognized by the common name yellow-crescent blister beetle. Adults reach approximately 2 cm in length and possess the chemical defense typical of meloids: cantharidin, a skin-irritating compound that causes blistering on contact with human skin. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Pyrota invita
Pyrota invita is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by George Henry Horn in 1885. The species is found in North America and belongs to the tribe Pyrotini, a group characterized by aposematic coloration and the production of cantharidin, a toxic defensive compound. As with other Pyrota species, it exhibits the typical meloid body plan with soft, flexible elytra and thread-like antennae.
Pyrota lineata
Yellow-lined Pyrota
Pyrota lineata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. It is characterized by yellow longitudinal stripes on dark elytra and is found in western North America. The species is documented in museum collections and has been observed in multiple localities. Like other Pyrota species, it exhibits the typical meloid soft-bodied form and elytra that do not fully cover the abdomen.
Pyrota obliquefascia
Pyrota obliquefascia is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. The genus Pyrota includes approximately 30 species distributed primarily in North and Central America, with many species exhibiting bright aposematic coloration. Members of this genus are known for extreme size variability between sexes and the production of cantharidin, a toxic defensive compound. The specific epithet 'obliquefascia' refers to an oblique band or stripe pattern on the elytra.
Pyrota perversa
Pyrota perversa is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Pyrota, it likely exhibits aposematic coloration and possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin, a toxic compound characteristic of the family. The species was described by Dillon in 1952. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published sources.
Pyrota riherdi
Pyrota riherdi is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. It was described by Dillon in 1952. The genus Pyrota comprises approximately 40 species distributed primarily in North and Central America, with most species occurring in arid and semi-arid regions. Members of this genus are characterized by their often striking color patterns, typically involving orange or reddish elytra with contrasting dark markings. Like other meloid beetles, Pyrota species are known for their production of cantharidin, a toxic defensive compound.
Pyrota trochanterica
Arizona Trochanter Blister Beetle
Pyrota trochanterica is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, native to the southwestern United States. The species exhibits two recognized subspecies: the nominate P. t. trochanterica and P. t. werneri. Like other members of the genus Pyrota, it possesses aposematic coloration warning of its chemical defenses. The species is known to aggregate on flowers, particularly yellow-flowered shrubs, where mating occurs.
Rhyphonemognatha rufa
Rose-winged Blister Beetle
Rhyphonemognatha rufa is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subfamily Nemognathinae. It is commonly known as the Rose-winged Blister Beetle. The species occurs in the Americas, with records from North America, Middle America, and South America. Like other nemognathine blister beetles, adults likely visit flowers for nectar and pollen. The genus Rhyphonemognatha is distinguished by its elongated rostrum and is closely related to Nemognatha and Zonitis.
Schizotus
fire-colored beetles
Schizotus is a genus of fire-colored beetles in the family Pyrochroidae, established by Newman in 1838. The genus contains at least three described species distributed across the Palaearctic region. Adults are small beetles, 7–9 mm in length, with distinctive pectinate (comb-like) antennae. Members are associated with dead and decaying wood, where larvae develop beneath loose bark.
Tegrodera
iron cross blister beetles, iron cross soldier beetles, soldier blister beetles
Tegrodera is a North American genus of large, colorful blister beetles in the family Meloidae, comprising three allopatric species. The genus is confined to arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, with each species occupying distinct geographic ranges separated by major desert barriers. Adults are conspicuous and often form immense feeding and mating aggregations. All species contain cantharidin, a defensive compound toxic to mammals. The genus is notable for unique male courtship behavior involving antennal grasping and stimulation.
Tegrodera aloga
iron cross blister beetle
Tegrodera aloga is a large, conspicuous blister beetle endemic to the Sonoran Desert. Adults are easily recognized by their black bodies with contrasting yellow and red spots and a distinctive black cross pattern on the elytra. The species is notable for its aposematic coloration, which advertises the presence of cantharidin toxins used for defense. Adults feed on spring blossoms and occur in large aggregations during mating and feeding. The species poses a documented risk to livestock, particularly horses, when contaminated alfalfa hay is ingested.
Tegrodera erosa erosa
Iron Cross Beetle
Tegrodera erosa erosa is a blister beetle (family Meloidae) endemic to southwestern North America. This large, colorful beetle occurs in dry valleys and hills of cismontane southern California and south into Baja California. Adults are active primarily in late spring and early summer, often forming immense feeding and mating aggregations. The subspecies is distinguished from the nominate form T. erosa inornata by its patterned elytra. Like other meloids, it contains cantharidin in its hemolymph, a compound toxic to mammals. The species is undergoing habitat retrenchment in southern California due to urban development.
Tegrodera erosa inornata
Tegrodera erosa inornata is a subspecies of blister beetle endemic to cismontane southern California and Baja California. It is one of three subspecies within the T. erosa species complex, distinguished from the nominate subspecies by reduced or absent elytral markings. Like all Tegrodera species, it contains cantharidin in its hemolymph and has been associated with livestock toxicity concerns when present in alfalfa hay. The subspecies is currently considered to be undergoing range retrenchment due to urban development.
Tegrodera latecincta
Soldier Blister Beetle, Iron Cross Blister Beetle
Tegrodera latecincta is a large, colorful blister beetle endemic to the Owens and Antelope valleys of eastern California. As the northernmost species in the genus Tegrodera, it is geographically isolated from its closest relative T. erosa by the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, and from T. aloga by the Mojave Desert. Adults are active in late spring and early summer, often forming conspicuous feeding and mating aggregations. Like other meloid beetles, it possesses cantharidin in its hemolymph for chemical defense.
Tetraonyx
Tetraonyx is a genus of blister beetles (family Meloidae) in the subfamily Tetraonycinae. The genus contains approximately nine described species distributed in the Americas. Species in this genus are characterized by their distinctive color patterns and belong to a group known for producing defensive cantharidin compounds.
Tetraonyx fulva
Globemallow Blister Beetle
Tetraonyx fulva is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by LeConte in 1853. It is commonly known as the Globemallow Blister Beetle. The species occurs in North America and is part of the subfamily Tetraonycinae, a group characterized by specialized morphological features including tarsal modifications. Like other meloid beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that can cause skin blistering.
Zonitis
Zonitis is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae, established by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. The genus belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, a group characterized by elongated, nectar-feeding mouthparts. Species of Zonitis are found in North America, with records from the southwestern United States and adjacent regions. Adults have been observed on flowers of various composite plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid habitats.
Zonitis cribricollis
Zonitis cribricollis is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subfamily Nemognathinae. The species was described by LeConte in 1853 and is known from North America. As a member of Nemognathinae, adults likely possess elongated maxillary mouthparts adapted for feeding on flower nectar. The species name 'cribricollis' refers to a punctured or sieve-like collar (pronotum).
Zonitis sayi
Zonitis sayi is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is distributed across North America from Mexico to Canada. Adults measure 8–12 mm in length. The species belongs to the genus Zonitis, which comprises medium-sized meloid beetles. Like other blister beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that can cause skin blistering in humans.