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Spanish fly
The Spanish fly is an emerald-green beetle (Cantharis vesicatoria, also known as Lytta vesicatoria, from Greek lytta=rage and Latin vesica=blister). It is 15-22 mm long and 5-8 mm wide, and lives of plants from the Caprifoliaceae and Oleaceae families[?].
Medical use The beetle contains up to 1% cantharidin. The powder made from dried and crushed beetle has been used as an aphrodisiac, under the mistaken impression that the urinary irritation created was sexual arousal. Its medical use dates back to descriptions from Hippocrates.
A similar powder from Myalabris beetles, called "vuka-vuka" (vuka=wake up), is known in Zimbabwe.
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