What is that bug?

Blister beetle is his name and death is his game! 


Ingestion of just a few of these insects results in Cantharidin toxicosis. The poison from these beetles results in large scale ulceration of the oral mucosa, esophagus, and stomach. In addition, the horses often are stricken by acute kidney failure, laminitis and death shortly there after, despite significant medical intervention. The beetles live in alfalfa hay and are often transported in bales of hay from the western part of the United States. 


Check out the following website for more details regarding this horrible bug!


http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asp

Poisonous Plants Quiz

The plants in the pictures were:

1- Creeping Night Shade (bottom pic with black berries)
2- Crotalaria "Rattle Box" (top pic with yellow flowers)

Both are quite common in the state of Florida and both are highly toxic to horses. Toxicity due to Crotalaria ingestion is more common and can result in end-stage liver failure. You can purchase a book that has a great description of the most common poisonous plants in the state of Florida @

http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-510-poisonous-pasture-plants-of-florida.aspx