What Are Blister Beetles?
There are many thousands of different species of beetles found worldwide. Many of these beetles display interesting characteristics and can be fascinating to learn about. The blister beetle is one type of beetle. There are many different species of blister beetles within the blister beetle family, but all share a similar shape, diet, habitat and defensive toxin.
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Appearance
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Because there are so many different blister beetle species, their size and coloring differ. Blister beetles can grow to between 3/8 of an inch to an inch long, although most species are between ½ and one inch long. They are usually black or gray in color. Some species may appear to be blue, green or may have a metallic quality. Other blister beetles are spotted or striped in hues of yellow or a lighter body tone. All blister beetles are long, thin and somewhat cylindrically shaped. They have large, round heads and a pronounced triangular neck region. Blister beetles can most often be identified by this neck area.
Habitat
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Blister beetles are widely distributed and can be found all across the United States and into some parts of Canada. They are common along the East Coast, Midwest and some parts of the Southwest. They can be found anywhere that crops are growing, as they migrate from food source to food source in a small group. Because of this migratory pattern, the beetles often do less damage than a large swarm of pest insects.
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Diet
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Blister beetles eat many different types of plants and flowers. This often includes crops, such as alfalfa, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peas and many other types of crops, vegetables and garden plants and flowers. The particular diet depends on the species of blister beetle. Because they can so quickly eat and kill a plant, they are known as pest insects. Younger blister beetles in the larval stage are carnivorous and often feed on other insects, such as grasshoppers as well as insect eggs.
Cantharidin Toxin
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Blister beetles contain a special toxin, called cantharidin, in their bodies. This toxin creates blisters on whatever living tissue it touches. The beetles can secrete this toxin, which makes handling them a bad idea. Blister beetles that have been crushed also secrete the toxin. If swallowed accidentally by a farm animal, such as a horse eating beetle-infested hay, the cantharidin toxin can cause severe illness and sometimes death.
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References
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