Spanish fly

English right|thumb|Lytta vesicatoria species Noun - + en uncountable A supposed aphrodisiac extracted from the blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria species; cantharidin, the active ingredient, a vesicant used as a defence by L. vesicatoria and other blister beetles. 2010, Carol Turkington, Deborah R. Mitchell, cantharidin, entry in Encyclopaedia of Poisons and Antidotes, 3rd Edition, page 49, Ingestion of Spanish fly causes burning in the throat and sloughing of the upper gastrointestinal tract. en 2012 Richard Webster The Encyclopedia of Superstitions 11 http://books.google.com.au/books?id=m1-xCL47_7QC&pg=PA11&dq=%22Spanish+fly%22%7C%22spanish+flies%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3RNlUZW1LImBlQWqiYCQBw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Spanish%20fly%22%7C%22spanish%20flies%22&f=false The best-known aphrodisiac is Spanish fly, which is made from the wings of the blister beetle. Spanish fly creates a condition known as priapism in men. This is long-standing erection, which sounds good in theory. Unfortunately, Spanish fly removes all sensitivity from the organ, rendering it ineffective. In women the results are more severe. These include depression, vomiting, inflammation of the kidneys, and even death. en countable The beetle Lytta vesicatoria species. en 1850 Thomas Duché Mitchell Materia Medica and Therapeutics 248 http://books.google.com.au/books?id=GJoYAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA248&dq=%22Spanish+fly%22%7C%22spanish+flies%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3RNlUZW1LImBlQWqiYCQBw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Spanish%20fly%22%7C%22spanish%20flies%22&f=false The Spanish fly abounds in the south of France, Spain, and Italy, and is found on the ash, lilac, privet, elder, honeysuckle, plum, willow, and elm trees.The American fly is rather smaller than the Spanish fly, and of a much darker color. en 2003 T. F. Allen Hand Book of Materia Medica and Homoeopathic Therapeutics 266 http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ptI-IPXLEz0C&pg=PA266&dq=%22Spanish+fly%22%7C%22spanish+flies%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3RNlUZW1LImBlQWqiYCQBw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Spanish%20fly%22%7C%22spanish%20flies%22&f=false Spanish flies applied to the skin produce blisters (vesication, with inflammation and even sloughing). Usage notes The synonyms en cantharis and en cantharides and associated taxonomic classification are regarded by some as obsolete and incorrect, but are still sometimes used; Cantharis genus is a genus of not closely related but superficially similar beetles of the family Cantharidae family. (See also Cantharis) Synonyms supposed aphrodisiac en cantharis, en cantharides Lytta vesicatoria en cantharis Translations cantharidin Persian: fa کوژخار kužxâr, fa باغوجه bâġuje, fa کاغنه kâġone Russian: ru шпа́нская му́шка f Spanish: es Lytta vesicatoria Basque: eu errauli French: fr cantharide f Greek: el κανθαρίδα f Ancient Greek: grc κανθαρίς f Russian: ru шпа́нская му́шка f, ru шпа́нка я́сеневая f Spanish: es cantárida f See also en blister beetle en meloid en Tenebrionoid beetles en terms derived from toponyms