Meloe angusticollis, commonly known as the short-winged blister beetle or oil beetle, is a species of blister beetle, native to North America. They average 9-19 mm (0.35-0.75 inches) in length — females are much larger than males. When disturbed the adult releases oily droplets of hemolymph from its body to repel potential predators, which may cause blistering on human skin.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
Poisonous. The note covers its whole family. Blister beetles; cantharidin, blisters on contact Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Meloe campanicollis — poisonous
- Meloe impressus — poisonous
- Meloe violaceus — poisonous
- Meloe proscarabaeus — poisonous
- Meloe americanus — poisonous
- Meloe autumnalis — poisonous
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Meloidae
- Genus
- Meloe
- Species
- Meloe angusticollis
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