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Black Blister Beetle
Epicauta pennsylvanica
20.53, -100.36
Field Notes
Description:
About 17mm body length. Glossy black without any markings. Head is wider than protonum and 'neck' is quite narrow.
Habitat:
Found in 'El Cimatario', a national park in semi-arid area just outside the city. The rainy season is now in full swing and many animals are venturing out.
Notes:
Blister Beetles are able to produce a very potent poisonous chemical called cantharidin. This chemical causes blistering of the skin, hence the name, and can lead to death if ingested. Apparently, there have been cases in which horses consumed amounts of crushed Epicauta among baled hay, which turned out to be fatal.
Species ID Suggestions
Spotted for Missions
Photographed
PublishedAugust 15, 2017
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