Epicautini
Guides
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 atrivittata
Black-striped Blister Beetle
Epicauta atrivittata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, occurring in 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 on contact with skin. The species is placed in the subgenus Macrobasis based on morphological characteristics.
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 cicatrix
Blister beetle
Epicauta cicatrix is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Werner in 1951. The genus Epicauta is one of the largest in the family and contains species known for producing cantharidin, a defensive chemical compound. This species is part of the North American fauna of Epicauta, a group that includes numerous species often associated with grassland and prairie habitats. Like other members of its genus, it likely possesses chemical defenses derived from cantharidin production.
Epicauta normalis
Epicauta normalis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Werner in 1944. The species belongs to the large and taxonomically challenging genus Epicauta, which contains numerous species with variable coloration and pattern. As a member of Meloidae, it produces cantharidin, a defensive toxin that causes blistering in vertebrates. The species is documented from Central America and North America, with museum holdings indicating it is represented by 186 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection.
Epicauta rehni
Epicauta rehni is a North American blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Maydell in 1934. The species is part of the large genus Epicauta, which contains numerous species that are often difficult to distinguish without detailed examination. Like other members of its genus, it is expected to possess chemical defenses based on cantharidin, a toxic compound characteristic of blister beetles.
Linsleya
Linsleya is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae, established by MacSwain in 1951. The genus comprises approximately five described species distributed in North America. As with other meloid beetles, members of this genus possess the characteristic chemical defense of cantharidin production. The genus is divided into two subgenera: Linsleya (Linsleya) and Linsleya (Linsleyina).
Linsleya convexa
Linsleya convexa is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subgenus Linsleya. The species was described by LeConte in 1853 and is native to western North America. It belongs to a genus of moderate-sized meloids associated with grassland and prairie habitats. Like other members of the Epicautini tribe, it possesses chemical defenses derived from cantharidin.
Linsleya sphaericollis
ash blister beetle
Linsleya sphaericollis, commonly known as the ash blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The species belongs to the genus Linsleya, which is part of the tribe Epicautini. Like other blister beetles, it possesses cantharidin, a toxic compound that can cause blistering upon contact with skin.
Linsleya suavissima
Linsleya suavissima is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Wellman in 1910. It belongs to the subgenus Linsleya within the genus Linsleya and is part of the tribe Epicautini. The species occurs in both Central America and North America, with museum holdings indicating it is represented by more than 25 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection. Like other members of the Meloidae, adults likely contain cantharidin, a defensive compound that causes blistering.