Short-winged Blister Beetle

This is a rather large and fat short-winged blister beetle. These beetles get their names because when squeezed or threatened, they emit a chemical from their abdomen that causes skin irritation and blisters. Sometimes the burns can be considered second degree if enough of the chemical gets on your skin. These beetles are especially dangerous to livestock, as they often feed in hay fields and get wrapped up in hay bales, which are then in turn fed to farmer's livestock. They have been known to kill horses when ingested. Killing horses in north Idaho.