noun
- A genus of beetles of the family Meloidae, commonly known as blister beetles, some species of which produce a toxic substance called cantharidin.
Usage: scientific/technical; usually capitalized when referring to the genus
Examples
- The lytta beetle is known for secreting cantharidin as a defense mechanism.
- Farmers must be careful when handling crops that attract lytta species.
- Lytta vesicatoria, also called Spanish fly, has been historically misused in folk medicine.
- The bright coloring of lytta beetles serves as a warning to predators.