Oklahoma-fauna
Guides
Actenodes mendax
Actenodes mendax is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by Horn in 1891. Based on field observations, adults have been collected on Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) in clay/gypsum mixed-grass prairie habitats in Oklahoma.
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.