Megetra vittata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.[1][2][3] Like other blister beetles, megetra vittata excrete cantharidin, a toxic chemical, to defend itself from predators.[4] Animals such as horses can fall ill and die from this toxin, as a result of eating many of these beetles, as they have been reported to get mixed in with their hay and other feed.

Megetra vittata
In Lozoya, Madrid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Meloidae
Genus: Megetra
Species:
M. vittata
Binomial name
Megetra vittata
(LeConte, 1853)

References

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  1. ^ "Megetra vittata Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  2. ^ "Megetra vittata". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  3. ^ "Blister Beetles | Entomology". entomology.ca.uky.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-20.

Further reading

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  • Selander, Richard B. (1965). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Megetra (Coleoptera: Meloidae) with Ecological and Behavioral Notes". The Canadian Entomologist. 97 (6): 561–580. doi:10.4039/Ent97561-6. S2CID 84687455.
  • Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2013). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 5: Tenebrionoidea. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-90-04-26090-0.