Blister beetles belong to the beetle family, Meloidae.
Blister beetles get their name from the chemical, cantharidin, in their elytra.
Elytra are the leathery, outer wings you see that cover the hind wings. They commonly meet in a straight line down the back of the insect. If this beetle walks on your skin, you might develop blisters. Several species of blister beetle attack potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, sweet potatoes, beans, peas, soybeans, cowpeas, melons, pumpkins, onions, spinach, beets, carrots, peppers, Swiss chard, radishes, cabbages, corn, oats, barley, alfalfa, clover, cotton, clematis, aster, chrysanthemum, zinnia, amaranth, and several other crops and weeds. More than 310 species of these beetles are found in all parts of the U.S. and Canada.