Beware of the Blister Beetle in your Alfalfa Hay

This little guy may not look like much, but apparently he packs a nasty punch!  Just recently someone reported finding remnants of this tiny creature in some alfalfa hay they just purchased in Brevard County, FL.  This beetle is found only in Alfalfa or Alfalfa mixture of hays.  I do not personally feed any hay with alfalfa in it, although each hay has its own set of issues from time to time so being diligent no matter what type of hay you buy is a good cautionary thing to do.  I found this great article from the University of Kentucky giving great insight to this culprit:  www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asp.  It is a great bit of information for all of us who own horses!