Cantharidae

/kænˈθærɪˌdiː/ noun

Definition

The scientific family name for blister beetles, a group of beetles known for their toxic defensive secretion called cantharidin.

Etymology

From Latin 'cantharis' (beetle) plus the suffix '-idae,' the standard scientific naming convention for insect families established in the 18th century by Linnaeus.

Kelly Says

The Cantharidae family includes over 7,500 species of beetles worldwide, and they're all chemists in their own right—each one manufactures the same dangerous compound cantharidin as a defense weapon!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.