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Megetra vittata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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)

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.

References

[edit]
  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.