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Height's crop Lytta vesicatoria. They were by the hundreds on the top of a tree while I was attempting some in flight shots due to their activity with no results whatsoever. Lytta vesicatoria,Spanish fly Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Height's crop

Lytta vesicatoria. They were by the hundreds on the top of a tree while I was attempting some in flight shots due to their activity with no results whatsoever.

    comments (4)

  1. View Jivko Nakev's profile
    Jivko Nakev
    Lion
    View Lion class
    I also try very often fly shots on insects and birds, but... rarely with success. Quite frustrating... Posted 9 years ago
    1. View RMFelix's profile
      RMFelix
      Lion
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      Me too, but then again, the rate of attempts/success it's what matters, most of time I remain only in attempt mode, but if we not attempt we can never have any sort of success ;) So, keep trying is key. cheers, my friend! Posted 9 years ago
  3. View WildFlower's profile
    WildFlower
    Lion
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    Did these beetles do the damage on the leaves? Posted 9 years ago
    1. View RMFelix's profile
      RMFelix
      Lion
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      Yes, adults feed on "leaves of ash, lilac, amur privet, and white willow trees; larvae are parasitic on the brood of ground-nesting bees, and lives on plants in the families Caprifoliaceae and Oleaceae", article here: http://eol.org/pages/1220034/overview
      L. vesicatoria is also associated with Fraxinus, in this case F. angustifolia (photo)       Posted 9 years ago

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The Spanish fly

The Spanish fly is an emerald-green beetle in the family Meloidae, ''Lytta vesicatoria''. Other species of blister beetles used by apothecaries are often called by the same name. ''L. vesicatoria'' is sometimes incorrectly called ''Cantharis vesicatoria'', but the genus ''Cantharis'' is in an unrelated family, Cantharidae.

Cantharidin is a powerful irritant vesicant substance obtained from many blister beetles, and sometimes given the nickname "Spanish fly". Cantharidin is claimed to.. more

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Similar species: Beetles
Species identified by RMFelix
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By RMFelix

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Uploaded Aug 25, 2016. Captured Jun 26, 2016 14:35.
country flag of Portugal Explore Portugal 1,947 873 0
  • NIKON D7100
  • f/1.0
  • 1/1600s
  • ISO400