Meloidae
Guides
Pyrota lineata
Yellow-lined Pyrota
Pyrota lineata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. It is characterized by yellow longitudinal stripes on dark elytra and is found in western North America. The species is documented in museum collections and has been observed in multiple localities. Like other Pyrota species, it exhibits the typical meloid soft-bodied form and elytra that do not fully cover the abdomen.
Pyrota mutata
Pyrota mutata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. The species was historically known as Pyrota germari, but this synonymy has been rejected and P. mutata is now the accepted name. As a member of the blister beetle family, it possesses the characteristic chemical defense system based on cantharidin. The genus Pyrota is distributed in the Americas, with species recorded from both North and South America.
Pyrota mylabrina
Pyrota mylabrina is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, distributed across Central America and North America. The species was described by Chevrolat in 1834. Like other members of the genus Pyrota, it is characterized by aposematic coloration, typically featuring orange or yellow and black patterns that serve as warning signals for its chemical defenses. The genus is known for pronounced sexual size dimorphism in some species, with males often considerably smaller than females.
Pyrota nigrovittata
Side-spoted Pyrota
Pyrota nigrovittata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Selander. The species epithet refers to the black longitudinal stripes (nigro- = black, vittata = banded/striped) characteristic of many Pyrota species. As a member of the tribe Pyrotini, it shares the general morphology of the genus: soft-bodied, elongate beetles with thread-like antennae and often striking color patterns that may serve aposematic functions. The genus Pyrota exhibits notable size variability among individuals, with some species showing extreme sexual size dimorphism during mating aggregations.
Pyrota obliquefascia
Pyrota obliquefascia is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. The genus Pyrota includes approximately 30 species distributed primarily in North and Central America, with many species exhibiting bright aposematic coloration. Members of this genus are known for extreme size variability between sexes and the production of cantharidin, a toxic defensive compound. The specific epithet 'obliquefascia' refers to an oblique band or stripe pattern on the elytra.
Pyrota perversa
Pyrota perversa is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, native to North America. Like other members of the genus Pyrota, it likely exhibits aposematic coloration and possesses chemical defenses based on cantharidin, a toxic compound characteristic of the family. The species was described by Dillon in 1952. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published sources.
Pyrota plagiata
Pyrota plagiata is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. The species was described by Haag-Rutenberg in 1880. It occurs in Central America and North America. Like other Pyrota species, it likely exhibits aposematic coloration typical of the genus. Museum records indicate substantial specimen holdings (106 specimens at the Entomology Research Museum, UC Riverside), suggesting it is not uncommon within its range.
Pyrota riherdi
Pyrota riherdi is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, tribe Pyrotini. It was described by Dillon in 1952. The genus Pyrota comprises approximately 40 species distributed primarily in North and Central America, with most species occurring in arid and semi-arid regions. Members of this genus are characterized by their often striking color patterns, typically involving orange or reddish elytra with contrasting dark markings. Like other meloid beetles, Pyrota species are known for their production of cantharidin, a toxic defensive compound.
Pyrota sinuata
Pyrota sinuata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Olivier in 1795. Like other members of the genus Pyrota, it is found in North America. The genus Pyrota is characterized by distinctive color patterns often involving orange, black, and white markings, and species within this genus are known to feed on flowers of Asteraceae. As with all meloid beetles, P. sinuata produces cantharidin, a toxic defensive compound that deters predators.
Pyrota tenuicostatis
red-margined blister beetle, red-margined Pyrota
Pyrota tenuicostatis, commonly known as the red-margined blister beetle, is a species in the family Meloidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. As a blister beetle, it possesses the defensive compound cantharidin, a trait characteristic of the family.
Pyrota trochanterica
Arizona Trochanter Blister Beetle
Pyrota trochanterica is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, native to the southwestern United States. The species exhibits two recognized subspecies: the nominate P. t. trochanterica and P. t. werneri. Like other members of the genus Pyrota, it possesses aposematic coloration warning of its chemical defenses. The species is known to aggregate on flowers, particularly yellow-flowered shrubs, where mating occurs.
Rhyphonemognatha
Rhyphonemognatha is a monotypic genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae, established by Enns in 1956. The genus contains a single described species, Rhyphonemognatha rufa (LeConte, 1856). These beetles belong to the subfamily Nemognathinae, a group characterized by specialized larval biology involving parasitism or predation on bees and their nests.
Rhyphonemognatha rufa
Rose-winged Blister Beetle
Rhyphonemognatha rufa is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subfamily Nemognathinae. It is commonly known as the Rose-winged Blister Beetle. The species occurs in the Americas, with records from North America, Middle America, and South America. Like other nemognathine blister beetles, adults likely visit flowers for nectar and pollen. The genus Rhyphonemognatha is distinguished by its elongated rostrum and is closely related to Nemognatha and Zonitis.
Spastonyx
Spastonyx is a genus of blister beetles (family Meloidae) established by Selander in 1954. The genus contains at least two described species: Spastonyx macswaini (Selander, 1954) and Spastonyx nemognathoides (Horn, 1870). Species in this genus have been documented in North America, with S. nemognathoides recorded from both the United States and Mexico. The genus is placed in the subfamily Meloinae.
Tegrodera
iron cross blister beetles, iron cross soldier beetles, soldier blister beetles
Tegrodera is a North American genus of large, colorful blister beetles in the family Meloidae, comprising three allopatric species. The genus is confined to arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, with each species occupying distinct geographic ranges separated by major desert barriers. Adults are conspicuous and often form immense feeding and mating aggregations. All species contain cantharidin, a defensive compound toxic to mammals. The genus is notable for unique male courtship behavior involving antennal grasping and stimulation.
Tegrodera aloga
iron cross blister beetle
Tegrodera aloga is a large, conspicuous blister beetle endemic to the Sonoran Desert. Adults are easily recognized by their black bodies with contrasting yellow and red spots and a distinctive black cross pattern on the elytra. The species is notable for its aposematic coloration, which advertises the presence of cantharidin toxins used for defense. Adults feed on spring blossoms and occur in large aggregations during mating and feeding. The species poses a documented risk to livestock, particularly horses, when contaminated alfalfa hay is ingested.
Tegrodera erosa erosa
Iron Cross Beetle
Tegrodera erosa erosa is a blister beetle (family Meloidae) endemic to southwestern North America. This large, colorful beetle occurs in dry valleys and hills of cismontane southern California and south into Baja California. Adults are active primarily in late spring and early summer, often forming immense feeding and mating aggregations. The subspecies is distinguished from the nominate form T. erosa inornata by its patterned elytra. Like other meloids, it contains cantharidin in its hemolymph, a compound toxic to mammals. The species is undergoing habitat retrenchment in southern California due to urban development.
Tegrodera erosa inornata
Tegrodera erosa inornata is a subspecies of blister beetle endemic to cismontane southern California and Baja California. It is one of three subspecies within the T. erosa species complex, distinguished from the nominate subspecies by reduced or absent elytral markings. Like all Tegrodera species, it contains cantharidin in its hemolymph and has been associated with livestock toxicity concerns when present in alfalfa hay. The subspecies is currently considered to be undergoing range retrenchment due to urban development.
Tegrodera latecincta
Soldier Blister Beetle, Iron Cross Blister Beetle
Tegrodera latecincta is a large, colorful blister beetle endemic to the Owens and Antelope valleys of eastern California. As the northernmost species in the genus Tegrodera, it is geographically isolated from its closest relative T. erosa by the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, and from T. aloga by the Mojave Desert. Adults are active in late spring and early summer, often forming conspicuous feeding and mating aggregations. Like other meloid beetles, it possesses cantharidin in its hemolymph for chemical defense.
Tetraonyx fulva
Globemallow Blister Beetle
Tetraonyx fulva is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by LeConte in 1853. It is commonly known as the Globemallow Blister Beetle. The species occurs in North America and is part of the subfamily Tetraonycinae, a group characterized by specialized morphological features including tarsal modifications. Like other meloid beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that can cause skin blistering.
Tricrania
Tricrania is a genus of Nearctic blister beetles (Meloidae: Nemognathinae) containing at least three described species, including T. sanguinipennis and T. stansburyi. These beetles are obligate cleptoparasites of solitary bees, with highly modified life cycles involving hypermetamorphosis and flightless adults. The genus is notable for its specialized larval stages that exploit bee nest aggregations.
Tricrania stansburyi
Stansbury's Blister Beetle
Tricrania stansburyi is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is a cleptoparasite of solitary bees, specifically known to parasitize the mason bee Osmia lignaria propinqua. The species exhibits hypermetamorphosis, with triungulin larvae attaching to host bees to gain entry to nest cells. It is found in North America and is one of at least two species in the genus Tricrania.
Zonitis
Zonitis is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae, established by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. The genus belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, a group characterized by elongated, nectar-feeding mouthparts. Species of Zonitis are found in North America, with records from the southwestern United States and adjacent regions. Adults have been observed on flowers of various composite plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid habitats.
Zonitis bilineata
Zonitis bilineata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1817. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States (Vermont). The species belongs to the genus Zonitis, which comprises small to medium-sized blister beetles. Like other meloids, it possesses chemical defenses and has larvae that are parasitic or predatory on other insects.
Zonitis cribricollis
Zonitis cribricollis is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subfamily Nemognathinae. The species was described by LeConte in 1853 and is known from North America. As a member of Nemognathinae, adults likely possess elongated maxillary mouthparts adapted for feeding on flower nectar. The species name 'cribricollis' refers to a punctured or sieve-like collar (pronotum).
Zonitis dunniana
Zonitis dunniana is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Champion in 1891. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from the southwestern United States including Arizona and New Mexico. The species has been collected on flowers of Isocoma tenuisecta (burroweed) and Hymenothrix wislizeni, suggesting an association with blooming composites in arid habitats. It is one of approximately 15 species in the genus Zonitis occurring in the New World.
Zonitis interpretis
Zonitis interpretis is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, described by Enns in 1956. It belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, which is characterized by elongated adult mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding on flowers. The species is known to occur in North America. Like other members of its genus, adults likely visit flowers for feeding, while larvae are probably parasitoids of grasshopper egg pods, following the typical life history pattern for Nemognathinae.
Zonitis perforata
Zonitis perforata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Casey in 1891. The species is known from North America and belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, which is characterized by elongated maxillary mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding. Like other members of the genus Zonitis, it is likely associated with flowers of composite plants (Asteraceae), though specific host records for this species are limited.
Zonitis punctipennis
Zonitis punctipennis is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, subfamily Nemognathinae. The species was described by LeConte in 1880 and is known from North America. Like other members of the genus Zonitis, adults are likely flower visitors with elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding. The species is represented by 35 specimens in the Entomology Research Museum collection (as of 2010).
Zonitis sayi
Zonitis sayi is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is distributed across North America from Mexico to Canada. Adults measure 8–12 mm in length. The species belongs to the genus Zonitis, which comprises medium-sized meloid beetles. Like other blister beetles, it produces cantharidin, a defensive compound that can cause skin blistering in humans.
Zonitis vermiculata
Zonitis vermiculata is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, first described by Charles Schaeffer in 1905. It belongs to the genus Zonitis, a group of small to medium-sized meloid beetles characterized by their distinctive elytral patterns. The species is known from North America, with records from the southwestern United States and British Columbia, Canada. Like other members of the subfamily Nemognathinae, Zonitis species possess elongated maxillary mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding on flowers.
Zonitis vittigera
brown blister beetle, Orange Blister Beetle
Zonitis vittigera is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae, found in North America. The species is commonly known as the brown blister beetle or Orange Blister Beetle. It belongs to the subfamily Nemognathinae, which is characterized by elongated adult mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding. Two subspecies are recognized: Z. v. vittigera and Z. v. propinqua.