Blister Beetles in Medicine Hat
Blister Beetles in the North Flats, Medicine Hat. The board is a 2X4.
Photo credit - Kelci Allard
Many people in Medicine Hat are reporting an infestation of blister beetles in their garden. One person said they had been in their home for over 10 years and had never seen anything like it.
Blister beetle larvae feed on grasshopper eggs and leaf cutter bee larvae but do not harm plants. The adults feed on foliage. There are more common during or after a grasshopper outbreak.
They’re called blister beetles because they emit a substance called cantharadin which can cause blisters on the skin. They can also cause irritation if ingested so keeping an eye on your pets is a good idea.
According to the Merck Veterinary manual,
Cantharidin is odorless, colorless, and highly irritating. It causes blisters when in contact with skin or mucous membranes. As little as 0.1 to 0.2 ounces (4 to 6 grams) of dried beetles may be deadly to a horse. The toxicity of cantharidin does not decrease in stored hay, and cantharidin is also toxic to people, dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, cattle, sheep, and goats.
There are several recommended ways to eradicate them - one is handpicking them while wearing gloves and throwing them into a pail of soapy water. Sometimes they are so numerous that you can shake them off the plant into the pail.
Other remedies include using soapy water or pyrethrin.
More information can be found about blister beetles here.
