Lytta nuttalli

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Lytta nuttalli
Nuttall's blister beetle, Waubay Wetland Management District.jpg
Nuttall's blister beetle on a milkvetch plant at Waterfowl Production Area in Waubay Wetland Management District, SD
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Meloidae
Genus: Lytta
Species:
L. nuttalli
Binomial name
Lytta nuttalli
Say, 1824

Lytta nuttalli, or Nuttall's blister beetle, is a species of North American beetle first described in 1824 by Thomas_Say. [1] [2] The genus Lytta is from a Latin word suggesting madness [3] The specific nuttallii recognizes the contributions of Thomas Nuttall, a contemporary of Say. [4]

The brilliant purple and green iridescent exoskeleton of Nuttall's blister beetles are a sharp contrast to the prairie plants of their native habitat. [5] This species is found in Canada (Alberta to Manitoba) and the United States (Idaho south to Arizona, east to Minnesota and New Mexico). [5] A disjunct population exists in eastern California restricted to higher altitudes. [5]

This species is one of over 3,000 species included in the family Meloidae or 'blister beetles'. [6] Adult beetles of species in this family are able to synthesize an irritating chemical 'cantharidin' that is used to deter predators. [6]

The larvae of blister beetles in the genus Lytta feed in the nests of solitary bees in the family Apidae on the bee larvae and the food stored by the bee for its own larvae. [5] [7] [8]

As adults, 'Nuttall's blister beetles' are known to feed in groups on green plants, particularly legumes. [5] [9] [10] [11] This behaviour can create problems for farmers when the beetles feed on soybeans, sweetclover, alfalfa, or other crops. [12] Animals that eat the beetles in hay or forage may be poisoned by the beetles' chemical defense. [12] [9] The beetles are not considered a serious agricultural pest as their populations are naturally limited by their need for native ground nesting bees as larvae. [9] [12]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blister beetle</span> Family of beetles

Blister beetles are beetles of the family Meloidae, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. About 7,500 species are known worldwide. Many are conspicuous and some are aposematically colored, announcing their toxicity to would-be predators.

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<i>Lytta</i> Genus of beetles

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<i>Epicauta vittata</i> Species of beetle

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<i>Ceroctis capensis</i> Species of beetle

Ceroctis capensis, or spotted blister beetle, is diurnal and endemic to Southern Africa occurring in diverse habitats, and belonging to the Meloidae or Blister beetle family. It secretes a toxic liquid from its leg joints when roughly handled, blistering human skin. This species somewhat resembles Mylabris oculata, a member of the same family.

Lytta morrisoni, or Morrison's blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Lytta stygica</i> Species of beetle

Lytta stygica is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

Lytta tenebrosa is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

Lytta rathvoni is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America. The species is named for Simon Rathvon, a 19th-century American entomologist.

Lytta refulgens is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

Lytta mirifica, the Anthony blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

Lytta lecontei is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Meloe franciscanus is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in the deserts of the southwestern United States. The larvae are parasites of bee larvae, eating them and consuming their provisions.

Tegrodera aloga, the iron cross blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in Arizona, California, and Sonora.

<i>Tegrodera</i> Genus of beetles

Tegrodera is a genus of beetles known as iron cross blister beetles and soldier blister beetles. They are in the family Meloidae. There are three described species in Tegrodera.

<i>Megetra vittata</i> Species of beetle

Megetra vittata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America. Like other blister beetles, megetra vittata excrete cantharidin, a toxic chemical, to defend itself from predators. 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.

Lytta sublaevis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

Lytta nigripilis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.

References

  1. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Lytta nuttalli". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  2. "Comprehensive Report Species - Lytta nuttallii". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  3. "Origins of names (Entomological Etymology) - BugGuide.Net". bugguide.net. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  4. "Cornus nuttallii - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Schmidt, Jason Patric (2008). Insects of western North America: The Blister Beetles (Meloidae) of Colorado. Fort Collins, CO: C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, Colorado State University.
  6. 1 2 Du, Chao; Zhang, Lifang; Lu, Ting; Ma, Jingnan; Zeng, Chenjuan; Yue, Bisong; Zhang, Xiuyue (2017). "Mitochondrial genomes of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) and two large intergenic spacers in Hycleus genera". BMC Genomics. 18 (1): 698. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4102-y . PMC   5585954 . PMID   28874137.
  7. "Genus Lytta - BugGuide.Net". bugguide.net. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  8. Church, N. S.; Gerber, G. H. (1977). "Observations on the Ontogeny and Habits of Lytta Nuttalli, L. Viridana, and L. Cyanipennis (Coleoptera: Meloidae): The Adults and Eggs" . The Canadian Entomologist. 109 (4): 565–573. doi:10.4039/Ent109565-4. S2CID   86826701 . Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Philip, Hugh (2015). Field crop and forage pests and their natural enemies in western Canada : identification and management field guide (PDF). Government of Canada. ISBN   978-1-100-25768-6 . Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  10. "Species Lytta nuttalli - Nuttall's Blister Beetle - BugGuide.Net". bugguide.net.
  11. Burgess (July 1983). "Damage to Rapeseed Plants by Two Species of Blister Beetles". The Canadian Entomologist. 115 (7): 875–876. doi:10.4039/Ent115875-7. S2CID   83524405 . Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 "Blister Beetles in Soybeans (06/28/18) — Crop & Pest Report". www.ag.ndsu.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2019.