Spanish fly

References

Spanish fly

insect

Also known as: Cantharis vesicatoria, Lytta vesicatoria

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Learn about this topic in these articles:

blister beetle
Cantharidin
…species Lytta vesicatoria, commonly called Spanish fly. Sometimes known as beetlejuice, cantharidin is used medically as a topical skin irritant to remove warts and molluscum. Given that inducing blisters has been a common remedy for many ailments, cantharidin has a long history of use in traditional medicine and is applied…
Read More
…species Lytta vesicatoria, commonly called Spanish fly. Sometimes known as beetlejuice, cantharidin is used medically as a topical skin irritant to remove warts and molluscum. Given that inducing blisters has been a common remedy for many ailments, cantharidin has a long history of use in traditional medicine and is applied…
Read More

aphrodisiac
) Lytta vesicatoria. It has been a traditional sexual stimulant fed to male livestock to facilitate breeding. In humans the substance produces skin blisters on contact, and attempts to ingest it as an aphrodisiac are considered extremely hazardous. Yohimbine is a crystalline alkaloid substance derived from…
Read More
) Lytta vesicatoria. It has been a traditional sexual stimulant fed to male livestock to facilitate breeding. In humans the substance produces skin blisters on contact, and attempts to ingest it as an aphrodisiac are considered extremely hazardous. Yohimbine is a crystalline alkaloid substance derived from…
Read More