blister beetle

noun

: a beetle (such as the Spanish fly) used medicinally dried and powdered to raise blisters on the skin

broadly : any of a family (Meloidae) of soft-bodied beetles whose blood contains cantharidin

Examples of blister beetle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What are blister beetles attracted to? —Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2023

In January 1862, Lewis’ two white roommates accused her of poisoning their wine with Spanish fly, a toxin produced by the blister beetle, often used in those days as an aphrodisiac. —Jessica Lynne, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Feb. 2022

There are 30 species of blister beetles in Wisconsin, but they are more commonly found in states farther west such as Kansas, Wyoming and Texas. —Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2020

In the grand scheme of things, blister beetles are not uncommon in Wisconsin. —Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2020

But at the larva stage, blister beetles take a slight detour that brings them in contact with a particular species of bees. —Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 12 Sep. 2018

One of the most vicious and twisted is the blister beetle. —Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 12 Sep. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

blister beetle

noun

: any of a family of soft-bodied beetles including some whose dried bodies are used in medicine to blister the skin

Medical Definition

blister beetle

noun

: any of various beetles (as the Spanish fly) that are used medicinally dried and powdered to raise blisters on the skin

broadly : any of numerous soft-bodied beetles (family Meloidae)