Terpenoid-toxin

Guides

• 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.

  blister-beetlecantharidinMacrobasisMeloidaeEpicautiniCentral-AmericaNorth-Americadefensive-chemistryterpenoid-toxin