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Margined Blister Beetle I was taking a picture of a flower when this not-so-harmless beetle crawled onto my foot. I didn't disturb it in an attempt to get a better picture because this is a blister beetle. Blister beetles get their common name from their ability to exude hemolymph (blood), which causes blisters on contact with human skin. Hemolymph is often exuded copiously by reflexive bleeding when an adult beetle is pressed, rubbed, or disturbed. The blistering agent in their hemolymph is cantharidin. Epicauta,Epicauta funebris,Geotagged,Margined Blister Beetle,Summer,United States,beetle,blister beetle Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Margined Blister Beetle

I was taking a picture of a flower when this not-so-harmless beetle crawled onto my foot. I didn't disturb it in an attempt to get a better picture because this is a blister beetle. Blister beetles get their common name from their ability to exude hemolymph (blood), which causes blisters on contact with human skin. Hemolymph is often exuded copiously by reflexive bleeding when an adult beetle is pressed, rubbed, or disturbed. The blistering agent in their hemolymph is cantharidin.

    comments (4)

  1. Maybe I'm imagining things, but it looks genuinely interested in you. Posted 7 years ago
    1. That was my fear! Although, the blisters don't actually hurt all that much - but enough to want to avoid an altercation. Posted 7 years ago
      1. I understand, I still have an irrational fear of insects touching me or being on me, mostly for larger insects. Pretty strange considering I love insect photography. Posted 7 years ago
        1. I don't mind most insects touching me, but I prefer to know they are there and to have invited them in the first place. BUT, I absolutely can't stand finding ticks on me or being bitten by mosquitoes. Posted 7 years ago

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Soft-bodied, long-legged, blister beetles that are able to exude hemolymph when threatened.

Similar species: Beetles
Species identified by Christine Young
View Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Mar 29, 2018. Captured Jul 20, 2013 14:48 in 55 Locust St, Coventry, RI 02816, USA.
  • Canon EOS 7D
  • f/5.6
  • 1/256s
  • ISO320
  • 100mm