MYLABRIS, a genus of insects of the order Coleoptera, possessing properties identical with those of the blistering beetle Cantharis vesicatoria. The ancients chiefly employed two species of Mylabris, one of which, the M. Cichorii, the Telini of the Hindus, has been used for ages, and is so at present by the European and native physicians of India and China. The blistering flies of India are chiefly the M. Cichorii, the Cantharis gigas, and the C. violacea. M. Cichorii is about an inch long, and one-third broad ; the elytrm or wing coverts are Marked with six cross stripes of deep blue and russet brown. The Buprestis of ancient writers is met with in the bazars under the name of the golden fly (aona-makhi). The Cantharis violacea is often mixed with specimens of Mylabris in the bazars. The Telini fly, if pro cured before the mites have commenced its destruction, yields on an average one-third more of cantharidine than the Spanish fly of the Euro pean shops. The blue fly is of uncertain strength. M. trianthema, so called from its being usually found on the plant named Trianthema decandra (Biscopra, HIND.), was described by Dr. Fleming.
Some prejudice exists against the article on account of its alleged excessive severity of action. Mylabris pustulata and M. punctum are found in large quantities it certain seasons all over Southern India. The \ ffieinal blistering fly has had a variety of name . It was called Meloe vesicatorius by Linnaeus, Lytta• vesicatoria by Fabricius, and Cantharis ve icatoria by Geoffroy, and now by the Pharmae ceias. The name zavBapts was applied by the Greeks to a species of coleopterous insect which possessed the properties of the officinal blistering beetle, but it was dis tinguished by yellow transverse bands. This is the characteristic of species of Mylabris, one of which, M. Fusseleni, occurs in the south of Europe, and another, M. Cichorii, throughout the east. In India it is called Telee or Telini, and Teli makhi, or the oily fly, from the oil-like exudation which the insects of this genus give out from the articulations of their legs when seized.