Comprehensive Description
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Meloidae (Blister Beetles)
These beetles are medium to medium-large in size. They are fairly long, with rectangular wing-cases, and heads that are wider than the pronotum. They are black, brown, tan, or red, with variable patterns. When disturbed, Blister Beetles exude blood with an irritating chemical that can cause blisters. Adults are often serious pests that feed on foliage and flowers, as well as pollen and nectar. The larvae are usually beneficial, feeding underground on grasshopper egg cases and the immature specimens of other insects. A typical example is Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle), which sometimes appears in large numbers on goldenrod and other flowers.
These beetles are medium to medium-large in size. They are fairly long, with rectangular wing-cases, and heads that are wider than the pronotum. They are black, brown, tan, or red, with variable patterns. When disturbed, Blister Beetles exude blood with an irritating chemical that can cause blisters. Adults are often serious pests that feed on foliage and flowers, as well as pollen and nectar. The larvae are usually beneficial, feeding underground on grasshopper egg cases and the immature specimens of other insects. A typical example is Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister Beetle), which sometimes appears in large numbers on goldenrod and other flowers.
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