Hycleus phaleratus, is a species ofblister beetle found in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.[1] It is sometimes considered a problem in agricultural cultivation but has been used intraditional Chinese medicine.[2] The species was formerly placed in the genusMylabris.
Body length is about 18 to 25.1 mm. Head with moderately coarse deep and dense punctures. Eyes longer and reniform. Maxillary palpi with triangular apical segment. Pronotum strongly convergent from apical third to apex. Pubescence long, and dense on pronotum. Elytra with moderately coarse, shallow punctures and short pubescence. Basal region consists with two yellowish spots. These spots become rectangular in shape from dorsally and laterally. The median and apicalyellow bands are less undulate. Ventrum moderately and coarsely punctate and shiny. Male has shallowly emarginate sixth visible abdominal sternum, whereas female with entire apex in sixth visible abdominal sternum.[3] Elytral axillary spot convered with black setae. Fore margins of the mesepisterna almost parallel which runs along the median groove. In male, proximal aedeagal hook is closer to the distal one.[4]
In China, the beetle is important commercially in Chinese medicine, due to the ability to biosynthesize potent defensive blistering agentcantharidin.[5][6] The beetle was traditionally used to treat tumors, carbuncle, scrofula, poor blood circulation, pleurisy, dropsy, pericarditis, and missed menstrual periods.[7][8] Some side effects of the crude medicine obtained fromH, phaleratus can cause abdominal pain and hemorrhagic shock.[9][10]
^Zhu, F; Lei, CL; Xue, FS (December 2005). "The morphology and temperature-dependent development ofMylabris phalerata Pallas (Coleoptera: Meloidae)".The Coleopterists Bulletin.59 (4):521–527.doi:10.1649/838.1.JSTOR4010013.S2CID85904215.
^Huh, JE; Kang, KS; Ahn, KS; Kim, DH; Saiki, I; Kim, SH (12 September 2003). "Mylabris phalerata induces apoptosis by caspase activation following cytochromec release and Bid cleavage".Life Sciences.73 (17):2249–2262.doi:10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00568-x.PMID12927594.
