Photograph courtesy of Nikite Muller, Institute for Water Research

The Blister Beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) of South Africa under construction

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Ceroctis gyllenhali Photograph courtesy of Hamish Robertson, South African Museum

Ceroctis capensis Photograph courtesy of Hamish Robertson, South African Museum

In English these beetles are known as blister beetles, since a crushed beetle will cause nasty blisters on the skin. The Afrikaans name is 'blaartrekkewers', which denotes exactly the same. The blister beetles of the genus Mylabris (also known as "vuka vuka" and "squirrel jump" in parts of Zimbabwe) are very common and widespread in southern Africa. They are medium-sized to fairly large, and typically have yellow and black patterns (warning colours!). The most common species is _Mylabris oculata_, which can be really abundant and is an occasional pest of beans and ornamental flowers.

These beetles are sometimes used as an aphrodisiac by the indigenous peoples of southern Africa. The active "aphrodisiac" ingredient in these beetles is cantharidin, and this is concentrated in the elytra. It is interesting to note that the infamous Spanish Fly also belongs to the Meloidae. Cantharidin is very toxic to vertebrates, hence the value of the warning colouration of the beetles. Professor Joubert who used to be at the Medical University of Southern Africa, investigated a couple of cases of cantharidin poisoning quite a number of years ago. The symptoms included intestinal and urinary tract haemorrhage, and even death. The potency of blister beetles has been known to humans since the time of Hippocrates. Later in history, the Marquis de Sade was brought to trial for poisoning an entire orgy with spanish fly in 1772. Though the biochemistry of this nasty blistering beetle is rarely understood, they are still used and misused by people today as a type of insect viagra.