blister beetle

Description:

Blister beetles are beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Meloidae, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. There are approximately 7,500 known species worldwide. Many are conspicuous and some aposematically colored, announcing their toxicity to would-be predators. They are 13-16 mm in size. The elitra rare red and have each four black spots and a black band in the abdomen.They fly between June and October. Like many coleoptera they have a very complex biological cycle. As larvae the feed on grasshopper eggs and larvae.

Habitat:

These coleoptera are very common in Mediterranean countries and they prefer sunny places with many flowers because they feed on pollen. This one was spotted on a meadow with lots of umbeliferous flowers

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec. f/3.8 ISO Speed Rating: 200. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired