Blister beetles get their name because of they have a defensive secretion made up of cantharidin. There are over 7000 species known worldwide and they come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. The adults typically feed on a wide variety of plants and flowers and the larva enjoy grasshopper eggs. They can cause damage in gardens and crops because they will feed on the leaves of your plants. You generally don’t want to handle them bare handed because if they become agitated they can release the blistering agent.
