Spanish Fly

Lytta vesicatoria

The Spanish Fly is a bright green beetle known for its special ability to produce a chemical that can cause irritation. They are often found in warm places and are interesting to observe, but it's best to admire them from a distance!

Lebensraum: Grasslands

Aussehen

The Spanish Fly is a strikingly metallic, iridescent green beetle with an elongated, cylindrical body. Its vibrant, almost jewel-like color sets it apart, often appearing to shimmer in sunlight. It has prominent antennae and a relatively soft, flexible exoskeleton.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungColeopteraFamilieMeloidaeGattungLytta

Spanish Fly

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

4/5 · Hoch

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Ancient Romans and Greeks used Spanish Fly in remedies!

Despite its name, it's actually a type of beetle, not a fly!

These amazing insects can live up to a month as adults.

Touching them can cause a blister because of their special defense!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Spanish Fly can produce a powerful blistering chemical called cantharidin that helps them deter predators.

Spanish Fly has a shiny, metallic green exoskeleton that helps them visually warn predators of their toxicity.

Spanish Fly larvae can parasitize bee nests, consuming stored food and young bees for growth.

Maße und Details

Größe: 15-25 mm
Lebenserwartung: 20-40 Tage
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Adults feast on tree leaves, while their larvae have a surprising diet inside bee nests!

Altersunterschiede: Larvae are parasitic, feeding on bee eggs and stored pollen/honey. Adults are herbivorous.

Hauptnahrung

ash leaves
lilac leaves
poplar leaves
willow leaves
honeysuckle leaves

Nahrungssuche

Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

European Ash

Fraxinus excelsior

Adults commonly feed on the leaves of this tree species.

eats

Common Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Its foliage is a preferred food source for the adult beetles.

parasitizes

Ashy Mining Bee

Andrena vaga

Larvae invade the underground nests of this ground-nesting bee.

Merkmale

Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger leben den größten Teil ihres Lebens allein und interagieren mit Artgenossen nur zur Paarung oder zur Aufzucht der Jungen.

Farbenfroh

Farbenfroh beschreibt Organismen oder Objekte, die eine große Vielfalt an leuchtenden und deutlich erkennbaren Farben aufweisen.

Grasland

Grasland-Lebensräume sind terrestrische Biome, die von Gräsern und krautigen Pflanzen dominiert werden und einer Vielzahl von Weidetieren als Lebensraum dienen.