Megetra vittata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Megetra vittata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Lozoya, Madrid | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Meloidae |
| Genus: | Megetra |
| Species: | M. vittata |
| Binomial name | |
| Megetra vittata (LeConte, 1853) | |
Megetra vittata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.[1][2][3] Like other blister beetles, It excretes cantharidin, a toxic chemical, to defend itself from predators.[4] 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.
