Megetra vittata explained

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.^[1] 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.

Further reading

• A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Megetra (Coleoptera: Meloidae) with Ecological and Behavioral Notes. 1965. Selander . Richard B.. The Canadian Entomologist. 97. 6. 561–580. 10.4039/Ent97561-6. 84687455.
• Book: Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 5: Tenebrionoidea. 2013. Lobl . I.. Smetana . A.. Apollo Books. 978-90-04-26090-0.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blister Beetles Entomology . 2023-06-20 . entomology.ca.uky.edu.