Comments on: Blister Beetles

By: Marideth Sisco

Marideth Sisco — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:28:18 +0000

Hellish bugs, but they do have some odd weaknesses, in my experience. For example, they hate noise. Banging on a piepan or loud rock music nearby will make them move, as will repeatedly shaking the leaves of the plants with a small tree branch or such. But don’t touch ‘em. And don’t mow or weedeat near them, as the blistering agent can end up anywhere. My two cents from the Missouri Ozarks.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:14:06 +0000

I got these a couple times when I was young, so did a couple of my siblings. As I recall: VERY painful blisters, which would enlarge over the first few days. But DO NOT pop them! No matter how careful you are, you will get a little of the fluid on another area of skin, and then that area gets the same symptoms (blisters enlarging over a few days). I remember the symptoms being gone in less than a week when I was about 10, but it took almost 2 weeks when I was 18. Maybe a different species of the bug, or the difference in age, who knows? Now, I think I’d be asking my doctor for strong lidocaine patches or gel, if available. Those blisters were many times more painful than any other blister I’ve ever had.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:40:27 +0000

So this is what’s getting my tomatoes! And it’s what left a blister on me just under my right eye today! Just thankful it didn’t happen inside my eye–didn’t miss it by much! Scared to go back out and check the tomatoes again. And to let my cats out!

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:49:47 +0000

To laura. regular medical doctors never know the problem when it comes to skin like problems. go see a dermatologist (skin doctor).

By: Cahri

Cahri — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:16:34 +0000

Jennifer
I am not a doctor but if is the case then get them straight to the hospital

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:02:28 +0000

My son turned up with this awful blister on the side of his foot which just got bigger and bigger. The pediatrician thought it was a staph infection so he popped it to get a culture. My son then got three more huge blisters on the bottom of his foot. I learned about beetle blisters and was told to pop the new ones, but don’t touch the liquid. I popped the blisters (and wore gloves), but my 11 year old touched the liquid. He now has bumps forming on both hands and some new places on his foot. Could these blisters really be from the liquid inside his first bite? I will take him to a dermatologist this week. And, if we can just leave the blisters alone and not pop them, will they really dry up?

By: laura

laura — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:18 +0000

I need help treating myself. I have blusters all over and they are now really red and look infected. I have been to 3 doctors and no one can help me . They haven’t heard of these beetles. Please help me . I am having a severe allergic reaction!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:01:18 +0000

Thanks for the info! I just found these buggers eating their way through my hostas! I hand picked as many as I could & will keep an eye for more. And of course wear gloves when I handle them.

By: ECJ

ECJ — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:12:15 +0000

Great info. Found them on my tomato plants in Williamsburg, VA. They drop when bothered so I used a tin can to catch them. Then I terminated them with rubbing alcohol. Good to know about their toxicity. I did not crush them but I did touch them so I might be in for some blisters. Thanks.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:52:45 +0000

Thank you for the information. I have looked up several websites about these blister beetles, none of which gave me any methods of getting rid of them.