Iron cross blister beetle of the blister beetle (Meloidae) family is indigenous to North and Central America. Its bright spotted appearance results from the cantharidin toxin secreted from its antennae, and legs leading to painful blisters in humans when touched. When ingested by livestock, particularly horses, the beetle could result in severe injury or even fatality.
Size: 20 mm
Color: It has a yellow body, resembling a vein-like structure with a prominent black cross running through the center. The head is bright red, while their legs and antennae are black.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a long, narrow, cylindrically-shaped body, with a wide head.
Not much is known about this beetle’s larval stage. However, the larva mostly remains underground after emerging from eggs and is possibly parasitic, occupying nests of grasshoppers and bees.
The pupal stage occurs in the nest near the flowers, and the following spring, they emerge into adults.
The eggs are mostly laid near the buds of the palo verde trees and hatch when the flowers open.
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Distribution | North America and Central America |
| Habitat | Near places where palo verde and other host plants grow |
| Common Predators | Birds |
| Seasons active from | April – July |
| Host Plants | Palo verde, sand bells, woolly stars |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Nectar and pollen of flowers Adults: Flowers of their host plants |
The adults often damage the flowers they feed, though the harm they cause is unknown.
Image Source: cdn-a.william-reed.com, i.pinimg.com, townnews.com, a4.pbase.com
Iron cross blister beetle of the blister beetle (Meloidae) family is indigenous to North and Central America. Its bright spotted appearance results from the cantharidin toxin secreted from its antennae, and legs leading to painful blisters in humans when touched. When ingested by livestock, particularly horses, the beetle could result in severe injury or even fatality.
Size: 20 mm
Color: It has a yellow body, resembling a vein-like structure with a prominent black cross running through the center. The head is bright red, while their legs and antennae are black.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a long, narrow, cylindrically-shaped body, with a wide head.
Not much is known about this beetle’s larval stage. However, the larva mostly remains underground after emerging from eggs and is possibly parasitic, occupying nests of grasshoppers and bees.
The pupal stage occurs in the nest near the flowers, and the following spring, they emerge into adults.
The eggs are mostly laid near the buds of the palo verde trees and hatch when the flowers open.
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Distribution | North America and Central America |
| Habitat | Near places where palo verde and other host plants grow |
| Common Predators | Birds |
| Seasons active from | April – July |
| Host Plants | Palo verde, sand bells, woolly stars |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Nectar and pollen of flowers Adults: Flowers of their host plants |
The adults often damage the flowers they feed, though the harm they cause is unknown.
Image Source: cdn-a.william-reed.com, i.pinimg.com, townnews.com, a4.pbase.com
