Agronomic and biodiversity impacts of the blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) in the world: A review

Blister beetles (Meloidae) are cosmopolitan in distribution except from New Zealand, Antarctica and most Polynesian islands. They act as minor pests for some crops and as major pests for others under certain conditions in several parts of the world. The present work reviews the most important agronomic impacts of various beetle species in different African, Asian, European and American countries, both the old world and new world, whether it has direct impact by damaging the foliage and feeding on crops or indirect effect by suppressing the populations of pollinators. Many host plants of the blister beetles belonging to various families were reported. The influenced insect biodiversity (bees and grasshoppers) by blister beetles were discussed. With regard to the management, different mechanical, physical, cultural, behavioral, chemical (synthetic insecticides and botanical insecticides), biological (predators and natural enemies), microbial (fungi, bacteria and nematodes) and genetic measures in different parts of the world were reviewed.