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Lytta vesicatoria, (Linnaeus, 1758)
Commonly known as “Spanish Fly”
Family: Meloidae – Oil Beetles.
Body length 9 to 21mm, 5 to 8mm Wide (Females body, wider than males).
Season: April to July.
Lytta vesicatoria is more common in temperate countries worldwide, over most of Europe’s southern regions and into the moderate climatic, Asian countries.
Habitat: Grasslands, flowery open scrub land with tree and shrub growth; especially where their hosts of various solitary bees are nesting.
The female lays her eggs on the ground usually close to a flowing plant or shrub, growing near a nest of solitary bees’. and covers them for protection, with a substance known as “Cantharidin,” (which is odourless and colourless), this is passed onto the female during mating, as the spermatophore (a protein capsule containing a mass of spermatozoa) contains some.
As soon as the parasitic larvae (first instars are known as triungulins, because of the three hooked claws on their legs) hatch, they instantly become active and climb their way up a flowering plant. The larvae which will eventually hook themselves onto a solitary bee, while it is collecting pollen and nectar, the unsuspecting bee will then carry the larvae back to its underground nest. The Lytta vesicatoria larvae, will attack and feed on bee larvae, will also feed on food supplies meant for the bee’s larvae. They will continue to mature in the underground nest, going through another two or three instars. When they become adult beetles, they will then fly from the nest and start to feed on a variety of mature plants, shrubs and tree foliage. (Olive trees, are more abundant here in the Alicante region of Spain).
Cantharidin if swallowed, even in a small quantity, is highly poisonous to humans and animals. “Spanish Fly” have been used in the past by various poisoners in liquid and powder form. It is also used in measured doses as a “love potion” since the Middle Ages. Controlled doses are still used as a tropical skin irritant, to remove warts and skin ulcerations; also, against urinary incontinence.
Read MoreCommonly known as “Spanish Fly”
Family: Meloidae – Oil Beetles.
Body length 9 to 21mm, 5 to 8mm Wide (Females body, wider than males).
Season: April to July.
Lytta vesicatoria is more common in temperate countries worldwide, over most of Europe’s southern regions and into the moderate climatic, Asian countries.
Habitat: Grasslands, flowery open scrub land with tree and shrub growth; especially where their hosts of various solitary bees are nesting.
The female lays her eggs on the ground usually close to a flowing plant or shrub, growing near a nest of solitary bees’. and covers them for protection, with a substance known as “Cantharidin,” (which is odourless and colourless), this is passed onto the female during mating, as the spermatophore (a protein capsule containing a mass of spermatozoa) contains some.
As soon as the parasitic larvae (first instars are known as triungulins, because of the three hooked claws on their legs) hatch, they instantly become active and climb their way up a flowering plant. The larvae which will eventually hook themselves onto a solitary bee, while it is collecting pollen and nectar, the unsuspecting bee will then carry the larvae back to its underground nest. The Lytta vesicatoria larvae, will attack and feed on bee larvae, will also feed on food supplies meant for the bee’s larvae. They will continue to mature in the underground nest, going through another two or three instars. When they become adult beetles, they will then fly from the nest and start to feed on a variety of mature plants, shrubs and tree foliage. (Olive trees, are more abundant here in the Alicante region of Spain).
Cantharidin if swallowed, even in a small quantity, is highly poisonous to humans and animals. “Spanish Fly” have been used in the past by various poisoners in liquid and powder form. It is also used in measured doses as a “love potion” since the Middle Ages. Controlled doses are still used as a tropical skin irritant, to remove warts and skin ulcerations; also, against urinary incontinence.
