Epicauta
Guides
Epicauta abadona
Sub-sutural Blister Beetle
Epicauta abadona is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It occurs in Central America and North America, with museum holdings documenting 48 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection. The species was described by Skinner in 1904 and belongs to the subgenus Epicauta (Epicauta). Like other members of the genus, it possesses the chemical defense compound cantharidin characteristic of blister beetles.
Epicauta albida
Neck-lined Blister Beetle
Epicauta albida, commonly known as the Neck-lined Blister Beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It belongs to the Albida group, a distinct species group within Epicauta characterized by specific adult anatomical features. The species is found in Central America and North America, where adults are typically associated with flowering vegetation.
Epicauta alphonsii
Epicauta alphonsii is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Horn in 1874. It is native to North America and belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous species often difficult to distinguish without close examination. Like other members of its family, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin. The species is represented by 265 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection, indicating it is relatively well-collected among North American Epicauta species.
Epicauta andersoni
Epicauta andersoni is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. The species belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous North American species known for producing the defensive compound cantharidin. Based on collection records from the Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside, E. andersoni is represented by 85 adult specimens. The species occurs in both Central America and North America, though specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in published literature.
Epicauta arizonica
Epicauta arizonica is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. The species is assigned to the subgenus Macrobasis within Epicauta. It is found in Central America and North America, with 326 observations documented on iNaturalist. Like other Epicauta species, it produces cantharidin, a defensive toxin that causes blistering and is toxic to most vertebrates.
Epicauta aspera
blister beetle
Epicauta aspera is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Werner in 1944. It occurs in North America and has been observed feeding on flowers of Gutierrezia sarothrae (snakeweed) in shortgrass prairie habitats of Oklahoma. Like other Epicauta species, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin, a toxic terpenoid compound that causes blistering upon contact with skin. The species is part of a diverse genus containing over 150 described species in North America.
Epicauta bispinosa
Epicauta bispinosa is a North American blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Werner in 1944. The species belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous species often difficult to distinguish without detailed examination. Like other Epicauta species, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin. The specific epithet 'bispinosa' refers to two spines, likely describing a diagnostic morphological feature of this species.
Epicauta brunnea
blister beetle
Epicauta brunnea is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. It is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Epicauta, it produces cantharidin, a defensive terpenoid compound that is toxic to most vertebrates and causes blistering upon contact with skin.
Epicauta callosa
Spot-necked Epicauta
Epicauta callosa is a blister beetle species in the family Meloidae, commonly known as the Spot-necked Epicauta. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Epicauta, it possesses the characteristic chemical defense of blister beetles: the ability to produce cantharidin, a potent irritant compound. The species was described by LeConte in 1866 and is represented in museum collections with moderate specimen numbers.
Epicauta caviceps
Epicauta caviceps is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Horn in 1873. It belongs to the subgenus Epicauta (Epicauta) and is known from North America. The species is represented by 100 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection at the University of California, Riverside, indicating it is a documented but not exceptionally abundant species within its genus. Like other members of Epicauta, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin.
Epicauta cupraeola
Epicauta cupraeola is a blister beetle species in the family Meloidae, found across Central America and North America. As a member of the large genus Epicauta, it possesses the chemical defense characteristic of meloid beetles: cantharidin, a bitter, toxic terpenoid compound. The species was described by Dugès in 1869 and is represented by 209 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum's Meloidae holdings. Like other Epicauta species, adults are likely plant-feeders, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented.
Epicauta diversipubescens
Epicauta diversipubescens is a North American blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Maydell in 1934. As a member of the genus Epicauta, it belongs to a group known for producing cantharidin, a defensive terpenoid compound that causes blistering on skin and is toxic when ingested. The species is part of the subgenus Epicauta (Epicauta), one of the most species-rich lineages of blister beetles in North America. Specimens of this species are held in research collections, with 22 specimens documented in the Entomology Research Museum holdings as of 2010.
Epicauta floridensis
Florida blister beetle
Epicauta floridensis is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, endemic to the southeastern United States. As a member of the large genus Epicauta, it shares the family's characteristic production of cantharidin, a defensive toxin. The species was described by Werner in 1944 and is distinguished from related Epicauta species by features of its Florida distribution and morphology. Like other Epicauta species, adults are likely associated with flowering vegetation, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Epicauta gissleri
Epicauta gissleri is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, native to North America. It was described by Horn in 1878 and is currently classified within the subgenus Macrobasis of the genus Epicauta. The species is known from limited museum specimens and observations, with records indicating presence in western North American regions. As with other Epicauta species, it likely possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Epicauta heterodera
Epicauta heterodera is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Horn in 1891. It belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous North American species. The species is known from North America, with museum holdings indicating it is represented in collections though not among the most commonly encountered Epicauta species. Like other blister beetles, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin.
Epicauta hirsutipubescens
Texas Thin-lined Epicauta
Epicauta hirsutipubescens is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was described by Maydell in 1934 and is classified in the subgenus Macrobasis of the genus Epicauta. Like other Epicauta species, it is expected to produce cantharidin, a defensive terpenoid compound that causes blistering and is toxic to most animals.
Epicauta maculata
spotted blister beetle
Epicauta maculata, commonly known as the spotted blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It belongs to the Epicauta maculata species group, a monophyletic clade comprising North American and South American species. The species is found in Central America and North America. Like other blister beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that can cause skin blistering in humans and is toxic to livestock.
Epicauta maculifera
Epicauta maculifera is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Maydell in 1934. It belongs to the subgenus Macrobasis within the large genus Epicauta. The species is found in North America. Like other blister beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive toxin.
Epicauta magnomaculata
Epicauta magnomaculata is a North American blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Martin in 1932. The species is part of the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous species with difficult taxonomy. As with other Epicauta species, it likely possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin, a characteristic toxin of the family. The species name 'magnomaculata' (large-spotted) suggests distinctive maculation patterns, though specific details of its appearance require direct examination.
Epicauta occidentalis
Epicauta occidentalis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. The species is endemic to North America. Like other members of the genus Epicauta, it possesses defensive cantharidin, 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 ochrea
Ochre Beaded Blister Beetle
Epicauta ochrea is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, commonly known as the Ochre Beaded Blister Beetle. The species was described by LeConte in 1853 and is placed in the subgenus Macrobasis. It occurs across Central America and North America, with museum records indicating substantial collections from western regions. Like other Epicauta species, it likely produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that causes blistering on contact with skin.
Epicauta parvula
little blister beetle
Epicauta parvula is a small species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous North American species that are often difficult to distinguish. The species was described by Haldeman in 1852 and is known from North America. Like other blister beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that can cause skin irritation. The specific epithet 'parvula' (meaning 'very small') refers to its diminutive size relative to other Epicauta species.
Epicauta sanguinicollis
Epicauta sanguinicollis is a North American blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subgenus Epicauta. The species was described by LeConte in 1853. Like other members of its genus, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin, a toxic terpenoid compound. The specific epithet 'sanguinicollis' refers to blood-red coloration on the pronotum or 'neck' region. Museum holdings indicate it is represented by few specimens relative to more common congenerics, suggesting it may be naturally scarce or geographically restricted.
Epicauta temexa
Epicauta temexa is a blister beetle species in the family Meloidae, described by Adams & Selander in 1979. It belongs to the subgenus Epicauta (Epicauta), a large and taxonomically challenging group of North American blister beetles. The species is recorded from Central America and North America, with museum holdings indicating established populations in the region. Like other Epicauta species, it likely produces cantharidin, a defensive terpenoid compound characteristic of the family.
Epicauta tenebrosa
Epicauta tenebrosa is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Werner in 1949. It belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous North and Central American species. Like other members of its genus, it possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin. The species is documented from both Central America and North America, though specific details of its biology remain limited in published literature.
Epicauta tenuilineata
Thin-lined Blister Beetle
Epicauta tenuilineata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, commonly known as the Thin-lined Blister Beetle. It is distributed across Central America and North America. Like other members of the genus Epicauta, it belongs to the subgenus Macrobasis. The species was described by Horn in 1894.
Epicauta valida
Blister beetle
Epicauta valida is a North American blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by LeConte in 1853. As a member of the subgenus Macrobasis, it belongs to a diverse group of meloid beetles known for their chemical defenses. The species is documented in entomological collections with 19 specimens held at the Entomology Research Museum as of 2010.
Epicauta ventralis
Dark-spotted Blister Beetle
Epicauta ventralis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1945. It belongs to the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous North American species that are often difficult to distinguish. Like other blister beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive chemical compound. The species has been documented in the western portions of North America.
Epicauta wheeleri
Orange-necked Blister Beetle, ethereal beef weevil
Epicauta wheeleri is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, found in southwestern North America. It exhibits striking iridescence in desert sunlight and has pronounced body segmentation that resembles weevils, leading to the colloquial name "ethereal beef weevil" in southern Utah and Nevada. Despite this resemblance, it is not a true weevil. The species is often observed in and around cattle pastures.
Epicautini
Epicautini is a tribe of blister beetles (family Meloidae) established by Parker & Böving in 1924. The tribe includes the large genus Epicauta (approximately 400 species), which is distributed nearly worldwide except Australia and Antarctica, with greatest diversity in temperate and semi-arid regions of the Americas. Members are known agricultural pests, with some species causing significant crop damage. The genus Epicauta is particularly diverse in northern Arizona, USA.