Bug FAQStriped lax beetle
Thelyphassa lineata
Source: Wikipedia
Adults are about 15 mm long and have a golden-brown body with distinctive black stripes on the abdomen and pronotum. They are native to New Zealand, the larvae live in rotting forest logs and adults likely feed on pollen and nectar. When handled they can release cantharidin, a chemical that burns the skin and creates blisters.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The beetle’s body is golden-brown with two black stripes along each side of the abdomen and one black stripe on the pronotum.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
An adult measures about 15 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
The beetle can secrete cantharidin, which causes skin blisters on contact.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae develop inside rotting forest logs.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
Can the striped lax beetle hurt my skin?
Yes, it can release cantharidin that burns the skin and creates blisters.
Source: Wikipedia
What do adult striped lax beetles eat?
Adults are believed to feed on pollen and nectar.
Source: Wikipedia
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelyphassa_lineata
Look it up elsewhere: iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.