Blister Beetle

Cantharidin from blister beetles has been used to create primarily aphrodisiacs but also poisons throughout history. The largest genus, Epicauta, contains many species toxic to horses. A few beetles consumed in a single feeding of alfalfa hay may be lethal. In semiarid areas of the western United States, modern harvesting techniques may contribute to cantharidin content in harvested forage. The practice of hay conditioning, crushing the stalks to promote drying, also crushes any beetles present and causes the release of cantharidin into the fodder. Blister beetles are attracted to alfalfa and weeds during bloom. Reducing weeds and timing harvests before and after bloom are sound management practices. Using equipment without hay conditioners may reduce beetle mortality and allow them to escape before baling.

The family is thought to have begun diversifying during the Early Cretaceous. The oldest fossil of the group is a larva (triangulin) found phoretic on a schizopterid bug from the mid Cretaceous Burmese amber, dated to around 99 million years ago.

===Subfamily Eleticinae=== Tribe Derideini *Anthicoxenus *Deridea *Iselma *Iselmeletica Tribe Morphozonitini *Ceriselma *Morphozonitis *Steniselma Tribe Eleticini *Eletica Tribe Spasticini *Eospasta *Protomeloe *Spastica *Xenospasta

(Meloinae: Epicautini)]] in the Mojave Desert: The white coating is cuticular wax, which can vary from white to yellow in this species [http://bugguide.net/node/view/38586].]] Tribe Cerocomini *Anisarthrocera *Cerocoma *Diaphorocera *Rhampholyssa *Rhampholyssodes Tribe Epicautini *Denierella *Epicauta *Linsleya *Psalydolytta Tribe Eupomphini *Cordylospasta *Cysteodemus *Eupompha *Megetra *Phodaga *Pleropasta *Tegrodera (Meloinae: Lyttini) can be safely handled, provided the animal is not startled, and allowed to move around freely. Otherwise, painful poisonings may occur.]] (Meloinae: Meloini): Note the drop of dark orange defensive fluid on its thorax.]] (Meloinae: Mylabrini)]] Tribe Lyttini *Acrolytta *Afrolytta *Alosimus *Berberomeloe *Cabalia *Dictyolytta *Eolydus *Epispasta *Lagorina *Lydomorphus *Lydulus *Lydus *Lytta *Lyttolydulus *Lyttonyx *Megalytta *Muzimes *Oenas *Parameloe *Paroenas *Physomeloe *Prionotolytta *Prolytta *Pseudosybaris *Sybaris *Teratolytta *Tetraolytta *Trichomeloe Tribe Meloini *Cyaneolytta *Lyttomeloe *Meloe *Spastomeloe *Spastonyx Tribe Mylabrini *Actenodia , one of many known in South Africa as "CMR beetle"]] *Ceroctis *Croscherichia *Hycleus *Lydoceras *Mimesthes *Mylabris *Paractenodia *Pseudabris *Semenovilia *Xanthabris Tribe Pyrotini *Bokermannia *Brasiliota *Denierota *Glaphyrolytta *Lyttamorpha *Picnoseus *Pseudopyrota *Pyrota *Wagneronota Genera incertae sedis *Australytta *Calydus *Gynapteryx *Oreomeloe *Pseudomeloe

sp. from Bannerghatta (Bangalore)]] (Nemognathinae: Sitarini)]] Tribe Horiini *Cissites *Horia *Synhoria Tribe Nemognathini *Cochliophorus *Euzonitis *Gnathium *Gnathonemula *Leptopalpus *Megatrachelus *Nemognatha *Palaestra *Palaestrida *Pseudozonitis *Rhyphonemognatha *Stenodera *Zonitis *Zonitodema *Zonitolytta *Zonitomorpha *Zonitoschema Tribe Sitarini *Allendeselazaria *Apalus *Ctenopus *Glasunovia *Nyadatus *Sitaris *Sitarobrachys *Stenoria Genera incertae sedis *Hornia *Onyctenus *Sitaromorpha *Tricrania

Tribe Tetraonycini *Meloetyphlus *Opiomeloe *Tetraonyx